Hong Seng obtains NADMA's approval for foreign workers management programme, signs agreement with pa

Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd's (HSC) subsidiary eMedAsia has been selected as a partner in the National Disaster Management Agency's (NADMA) National Security and Safety for Foreign Workers Recruitment and Quarantine Management (NSSFW).

eMedAsia, a 52 percent-owned subsidiary under HSC's healthcare arm HS Bio Group, also signed an agreement with a panel of hotels who have expressed their willingness to assist as quarantine centres for this endeavour.

Through the involvement in the NSSFW programme, eMedAsia will provide end-to-end Covid-19 screenings for foreign workers upon their entry into the country.

This include from pre-screening stage involving data management and integration with the government's eCovid system.

The screening stage involves identifying and verifying individuals to the Covid tests screenings with qualified swabbers, managing the Covid neutralising antibody tests when required, biosamples logistics and ethical waste management to post-screening stage involving isolation management of positive cases as well as any other related services.

The panel of hotels which participated in the NSSFW programme will serve as the foreign workers' quarantine centres to provide quarantine accommodation and meals, access to healthcare facilities and government health authorities, ensuring the security of the premises and providing support services such as disposal of waste and housekeeping.

HSC executive director Christopher Chan said working with NADMA for this important task as eMedAsia will also be working closely with its partners Koperasi Persatuan Perubatan Malaysia (KOOP MMA), which has access to almost 3,000 clinics and 14,000 doctors to ensure that the process of testing, quarantine, vaccination and so on will be completed smoothly.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad said this endeavour proves the government's commitment to enabling the return of supply of foreign workers in sectors that are facing shortages while adhering to international standards of managing foreign labour.

"We are confident that with the combination of efforts from all parties involved, we will be able to protect the public and country's interests and restore Malaysia's reputation concerning human resource management," he said.

eMedAsia is a joint venture company between KOOP MMA which is the investment arm for the members of the Malaysian Medical Association, and together with HS Bio Sdn Bhd, has the aim of digitalising the Malaysian private healthcare system and empowering potentially approximately 8,000 private clinics around Malaysia.

The panel of hotels are represented by Cahaya Pengurusan Cekap Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Shahrul Nasrun Datuk Kamarudin and Faz Group Sdn Bhd director Datuk Mohamad Fardzli Idrus.