DBS Bank announces series of COVID relief measures to bolster access to healthcare

By Sham Rathi On May 12, 2021

Joins hands with the Singapore High Commission, High Commission of India in Singapore, and Singapore Red Cross to import three cryogenic oxygen tanks
Partners with Doctors For You, United Way Mumbai, and GiveIndia to broaden access to critical healthcare resources
To launch a vaccine sensitization campaign in collaboration with UNICEF

MUMBAI, May 10, 2021: As part of its ongoing response to the pandemic, DBS Bank India has joined hands with the Indian and Singapore Governments and partnered with leading NGOs to support the augmentation of healthcare facilities, including government hospitals and COVID centres across major cities.

The relief efforts will support organisations working to alleviate the pressure faced by healthcare facilities by facilitating the supply of critical resources such as medical equipment, oxygen supplies, vaccinations and ICU beds, essential for managing the current wave of the pandemic.

DBS Bank, with the support of the Singapore High Commission in India and the High Commission of India based in Singapore, is importing three cryogenic oxygen tanks, approximately 20,000 litres capacity each, to support the ongoing relief efforts. The tanks will be donated via the Singapore Red Cross to India and deployed for use through the Ministry of Health, India, thereby complementing the ongoing efforts to provide necessary oxygen supplies to healthcare centres across the nation.

Additionally, DBS is also partnering with Doctors For You and United Way Mumbai to support the overall effort to combat the current spike in the pandemic. The partnership with Doctors For You will support the set-up of 300-bed oxygen equipped facility in Mumbai, along with the installation of mini oxygen plants, procurement of oxygen concentrators, and provision of medical personnel. The partnership with United Way Mumbai will facilitate ICU unit beds and equipment, oxygen concentrator devices and other medical supplies to enhance existing capacity at public healthcare facilities in Mumbai and Pune.

DBS will soon launch a vaccine sensitisation campaign in collaboration with UNICEF. The objective of the campaign will be to address vaccine hesitancy by creating awareness among employees, customers and the general public.

DBS employees across Asia have started a fundraising initiative to donate funds towards healthcare support and vaccination for the underprivileged through GiveIndia. The bank has announced that it will make a matching contribution that will be deployed through various on-ground partners, thereby doubling the impact of staff donations.

The overall contribution across all the initiatives will be more than SGD 2 MN (more than INR 10 Crores).

Surojit Shome, the Managing Director and CEO, DBS Bank India, said, “As India battles the current wave of the pandemic, public-private partnerships are more critical than ever. Access to emergency healthcare equipment is of utmost importance. We hope that our multiple engagements with NGOs and authorities to mobilise the necessary resources will help those who need them the most. At DBS, we believe that we are stronger together as we continue to support our customers, colleagues and the community at large to overcome this crisis.”

Simon Wong, Singapore High Commissioner, India, said, “We are greatly heartened by DBS’ swift response to the call of assistance for India. Singapore Government agencies, companies and NGOs have been working tirelessly with their Indian counterparts in the past few weeks to move critical supplies to India. Singapore has always been an all-weather friend, and we stand with India in the fight against COVID.”

Extending support to employees through this pandemic has been a core focus for DBS. The bank has partnered with Connect and Heal (CNH) to facilitate vaccination for its employees. Additionally, DBS is also helping to arrange oxygen concentrators for the staff and their families to reduce the pressure on hospital beds. Staff can also avail of medical assistance via an on-call doctor facility. Health sessions promoting mindfulness and fitness are organised to boost employee morale and wellbeing. Separate allowances and support schemes have been introduced to help employees meet COVID-related expenses.

About DBS –

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 18 markets. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney, “Global Banks of the Year” by The Banker and “Best Bank in the World” by Global Finance. DBS was also ranked No 1 in India by Forbes in its 2020 list of the World’s Best Banks.

DBS Bank has been present in India for 26 years, having opened its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly-owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. DBS provides an entire range of banking services for large, medium and small enterprises and individual consumers in India. In 2016, DBS launched India’s first mobile-only bank – digibank, which now has ~1 million savings accounts. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was amalgamated with DBS Bank India Limited. The bank now has a network of nearly 600 branches across 19 states in India.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises as it banks the Asian way. It has also established an SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia. In 2020, DBS introduced the “Towards Zero Food Waste” initiative as part of a global sustainability practice to encourage a shift in behaviours and mindsets to reduce food waste.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all our 30,000+ staff representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.