Health screening wheels into industrial workplaces

EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE  NTUC   WORKPLACE INITIATIVES   HEALTH SCREENING     HEALTH PROMOTION BOARD

Singapore - From today onwards, employees working at industrial parks will be able to go for health screening tests right at their company's doorstep with the launch of a mobile health screening programme.

The National Tripartite Committee on Workplace Health, supported by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), has introduced a "Health Screening on Wheels" programme where a mobile screening bus will make its rounds to workplaces located in industrial estates.

Employees will be able to test themselves for chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes. The committee hopes the accessibility of this health initiative will encourage employers, especially SMEs, to raise further awareness of chronic disease management among their workforce.

Yeo Guat Kwang, co-chairman of the committee and alignment director of quality worklife for NTUC, hopes this initiative will also spur employees to stay health for continued employability. "Health is a key factor for employability, especially for older workers. Participation in health screening will enable employees to monitor their basic health-risks profile."

The cost of this health screening is priced at $8 for Singaporean or Permanent Resident employees, aged 40 years and older. This is comparatively lower than an individual would have to pay at GP clinics, says CEO of HPB Lam Pin Woon, as the screening tests and the doctor's consultation fees could amount to $25-$30. While the programme's main target audience are employees aged 40 years and above in SMEs, Lam hopes the younger workers would take it upon themselves to participate as well, even though it isn't compulsory.

The programme will run from Sept 2009 to Mar 2010 and the bus will be deployed from 8.30am to 11am at commercial and industrial areas where large clusters of companies are housed. Health reports will be sent by post within three weeks from the screening with a phone reminder to participants if their results aren't ideal. In the meantime, companies that are not located at a participating industrial property may also contact Health for Life or call 6355 7788 to enquire about the availability of the mobile screening bus at their workplace.

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