Community & Social Welfare Programme by Pharmaniaga

Introduction
Pharmaniaga Berhad has always placed community based projects as an essential identity of a wholesome organisation. Its tradition of contributing to society is derived from its firm belief in good corporate governance and responsibility. In its strive to attain a healthcare system that is accessible to everyone, Pharmaniaga is not just about doing business, but rather, a practice of doing business with a conscience and enriching life together.

Expected Outcomes (What Pharmaniaga hopes to achieve)
In carrying out its Corporate Responsibility (CR), the Group ensures that its initiatives are sustainable and bring value to society in meaningful and tangible ways. With Community being its core CR thrust, the Group seeks to enrich the lives of the needy and less fortunate, while at the same time embraces national aspirations that aim to enhance national unity and economic development. In view of this, the Group has embarked on a community service project known as Skuad Operasi Sihat (SOS).

Impact on Community
SOS is a mobile clinic that does not only perform health screening, but also provides resources and establishes education and awareness for rural and marginalised populations in promoting a healthy lifestyle. SOS extends basic health education, counseling service and medical check-ups to the general public. Throughout 2008, SOS activities were carried out all over the country and in association with Institutions of Higher Learning (eg International Medical University, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, University Malaysia Sabah etc), NGOs (MERCY Malaysia, Ti-Ratana etc), Government Agencies (Majlis Pemulihan Orang-orang Cacat, Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan etc) and Orphanages (Asrama Damai and Agatha's Shelter Home). 100 SOS missions have been carried out so far and 30,000 people have benefited from its activities.

Sustainability of the Programme
SOS has a lasting impact on the community as its activity not only includes free basic health screening to ensure accessibility to healthcare, but it also focuses on consumer awareness of proper medicine management. This includes following medication and storage instructions; knowing the medicines that are consumed, such as their generic and trade names, their possible side-effects; and the importance of communication with one's doctor or pharmacist. People need to know the real physical condition of their bodies - their Body Mass Index (BMI), their blood pressure, their glucose and cholesterol levels. They also need to know about the drugs they are taking from their doctors in order to maintain a healthy condition. SOS provides both the check-up and the education they need.

Management & Staff Involvement
SOS opens opportunities for the development of human capital through volunteerism and trainings by MERCY personnel in areas of medical relief and emergency response. It also allows the employees of the Group to remain as nation-building partners with the Government, especially the Ministry of Health in ensuring a healthy Malaysia. The Group has currently 155 employees (Management and staff included) who serve as volunteers. They are offered internal trainings with opportunities to attend Volunteer Induction Programmes and Basic Mission Training courses offered by MERCY.

National Significance
The SOS community project is in line with the Government's aspiration of realizing "1 Malaysia: People First; Performance Now". The extent of the programme knows no boundaries, irrespective of background and culture. By having early detection of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardio-related, these diseases and the complications they bring can be avoided or at least managed and controlled, so that healthcare costs can be kept to a minimum. Moreover, when a disease is detected, SOS will provide counseling service including advice on proper diet. If subsequent treatment is needed, only then patients will be referred to a Health Clinic or the Hospital, which further minimises "patient traffic" at the hospitals. The SOS mobile clinic does not take over the role of "Klinik Desa", but rather it complements the services rendered by the clinics, especially to the rural communities. Last, but not least, the "gotong-royong" initiative of SOS supports the Ministry of Health's measures of fighting dengue.

Implementation
There are four chapters of SOS - two in Peninsular and another two in East Malaysia - that will scout for opportunities to reach out to the people. Once a particular community is identified, SOS will be sent on a mission. This mission involves providing free health screening, prescriptions and referrals by volunteer doctors, dispensing free vitamins or over-the-counter medication to treat common ailments such as fever and flu, de-worming the children and sometimes complemented with community service activities (gotong-royong) like cleaning up, repairing and painting of buildings, as well as organising fun and games for the children. One mission may last from one to three days.

Throughout 2008, SOS has gone on missions, among others, to the communities of:

1. Sekolah Spastik, Pusat Pemulihan Komuniti Pinang Tunggal, Kepala Batas (25 March 2008)
2. Sukanika OKU, Dataran Pemuda Merdeka, Butterworth (13 April 2008)
3. Myanmar - Donation of medical items via MERCY to Myanmar earthquake victims (12 May 2008)
4. Kg Parit Raja , Senggarang, Johor (13 - 15 June 2008)
5. Program Selingkar Kaseh, di Dewan Besar, Sungai Dua, Kepala Batas (22 June 2008)
6. Dataran Tapah, Perak in conjunction with World Aids Day 2008.
7. Kg Bobogun, Penampang, Sabah in conjunction with World Health Day 2009
8. Kota Samarahan, Kuching, Sarawak (25 April 2009)
9. Agensi Anti-Dadah Kebangsaan (monthly)