The initiatives are primarily targeting safety, well-being of its employees, vendors, contract staff, frontline administration, healthcare workers as well as lesser-privileged members of community
Cipla recently announced a number of initiatives that it has undertaken to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in Bengaluru. This includes a donation of INR 50 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. The company recently launched Rs 25 crore ‘Caring for Life’ COVID-19 dedicated fund to further several immediate and long-term relief efforts that the country needs to combat the crisis.
In Bengaluru, the company is working alongside the local administration to take the government’s COVID management efforts further. Cipla’s initiatives are primarily targeting the safety and well-being of its employees, vendors and contract staff, the frontline administration and healthcare workers as well as lesser-privileged members of the community who have low access to basic necessities.
Caring for employees
Employees have been working at Cipla Bengaluru to uphold the interest of patients. Cipla Bengaluru has constituted a special COVID-19 task force to onboard the government prescribed norms for social distancing and infection control. The company is undertaking frequent sanitisation of the facility premises, employee transport vehicles and goods carriers. All employees are provided with sanitisers, masks, hand gloves and safety goggles to ensure personal protection. Employees are required to submit a self-declaration form related to their health basis which entry to the Cipla premises is permitted. All self-declaration forms are duly verified daily by the Factory Medical Officer. Attendance is recorded via RFID smart cards to avoid surface contact. Daily screenings are conducted for every individual entering the factory premises and any symptomatic cases are escorted back home and requested to self-quarantine. Pregnant women, working mothers using crèche facilities and susceptible employees have been advised to avail leave or work from home. A mandatory 1-metre distance is being ensured amongst employees within the facility as well as during travel. In-person team meetings have been temporarily discontinued and replaced with video conferencing. Additionally, an extensive awareness campaign has been rolled out at the facility to destigmatise the disease and ensure that employees immediately report any symptoms or positive cases that they or their family members have come in contact with. Employees are being educated about the disease and necessary precautions by the Factory Medical Officer and site leadership through the public announcement system. In addition to the safety protocols, the company has also introduced other special measures. This includes the provision of free food to some contractual workers in the factory premises. Cipla has also facilitated a special COVID-19 medical insurance policy for the contractual workforce that covers self and family members (spouse and two children) with coverage of Rs 25,000 per individual.
Caring for patients
Despite all challenges, Cipla Bengaluru is ensuring business continuity so that manufacturing and distribution of essential medicines can continue for patients in these difficult times. Cipla has also launched a toll-free helpline to assist its patients in procuring essential medication across therapies from pharmacies and healthcare institutions.
Caring for the frontline workers
Cipla has been working closely with the local authorities to identify their most pressing needs to provide requisite support. Towards this, it has been supplying sanitisers and personal protective equipment (PPE) to various stakeholders within the Government administration, healthcare ecosystem and local authorities. This includes the distribution of approximately 5,500 mask and sanitisers to COVID-19 fighters like the Police department, health department and hospitals.
Caring for the community
In furtherance of its responsibility to the community, Cipla is providing essential supplies, such as medicines, food packets, sanitisers, masks, and gloves to individuals living near the company’s facilities. Cipla Foundation continues to partner with organisations on ground as well as with the local administration to support the daily requirements of the community. Over 1,200 kgs of rice have been distributed to support migrant workers. Additionally, the Foundation-supported Mobile Science Van project continues to extend virtual classes to students in remote communities to keep up their learning and interest in science education during COVID times.
- Advertisement -