SINGAPORE, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Through assistance provided by Marsh, Singapore's healthcare cooperative NTUC Unity Healthcare was today confirmed by the Singapore Accreditation Council as the first company in Singapore to be certified with ISO 22301:2012, the international standard for business continuity management.
Natural disasters, such as those in Japan and Thailand in recent years, have demonstrated the complex interdependencies in the global risk landscape and have made business resiliency a key priority for companies and government in Singapore.
Marsh Risk Consulting worked with NTUC Unity Healthcare to define, design and deliver a comprehensive business continuity management (BCM) programme and system. The BCM system was then audited and certified by SGS, a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification firm based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr Lim Sek Seong, Asia Business Continuity Management Leader for Marsh, added: "NTUC Unity Healthcare's approach is a model for the wider Singapore business community. Marsh was pleased to be able to collaborate with Unity on this important initiative and looks forward to helping other Singaporean companies achieve their BCM goals."
"We are honoured to achieve the accreditation. As a provider of healthcare services to Singaporeans, our ability to sustain or quickly resume services in the event of a major disruption is our first priority," said Mr. Steven Lye, Deputy CEO of NTUC Unity Healthcare. "We want to be well-prepared for any disruption that may impact our service to customers."
Cresenciano Maramot, Managing Director for SGS Malaysia and Singapore said: "NTUC Unity Healthcare's accreditation for BCM is a further testament to Singapore's reputation as a hub for corporate best practices. SGS is pleased to have certified NTUC Unity Healthcare against the ISO 22301:2012, making it the first Singaporean company to achieve this certification with the accreditation from the Singapore Accreditation Council."
About ISO 22301:2012 "Societal Security -- Business Continuity Management Systems"
This International Standard for Business Continuity Management specifies requirements to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain and continually improve a documented management system to protect against, reduce the likelihood of occurrence, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents when they arise. The requirements specified in this International Standard are applicable to all organisations, or parts thereof, regardless of type, size and nature of the organisation. The extent of application of these requirements depends on the organisation's operating environment and complexity.
About Singapore Standard SS540:2008
SS540:2008 specifies the requirements for organisations intending to build competence, capacity, resilience and readiness to respond and recover from events which threaten to disrupt normal business operations and activities. Stipulates the requirements to attain and maintain readiness to deal with risks and risk events faced by organisations due to the nature of their businesses, external environment or regulatory requirements. SS540:2008 will be replaced with ISO 22301 by Sep 2014.
About Marsh
Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management, teams with its clients to define, design, and deliver innovative industry-specific solutions that help them protect their future and thrive. It has approximately 26,000 colleagues who collaborate to provide advice and transactional capabilities to clients in over 100 countries. Marsh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), a global team of professional services companies offering clients advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. With over 53,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue exceeding US$11 billion, Marsh & McLennan Companies is also the parent company of Guy Carpenter, a global leader in providing risk and reinsurance intermediary services; Mercer, a global leader in talent, health, retirement, and investment consulting; and Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting. Follow Marsh on Twitter @Marsh_Inc.
About NTUC Unity Healthcare
NTUC Unity Healthcare was established in August 1992 in response to workers' concerns over rising healthcare costs. Today, NTUC Unity Healthcare is the largest healthcare cooperative in Singapore. It currently operates 50 Unity pharmacies, 13 Denticare clinics island-wide. NTUC Unity Healthcare's mission is to empower the community to care for their health and wellness, enabling them to live life to the full, enjoying every stage of their life. We deliver this with our quality range of health and wellness products and services, served by warm and professional staff, pharmacists and dentists, supported by the labour movement's commitment to caring for the community. For more information, please visit www.ntuchealthcare.com.sg.
About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 75 000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1 500 offices and laboratories around the world. For more information, please visit www.sgs.com.