Statement: SHL’s COVID-19 Statement regarding Taiwan’s case

Updated on: May 19, 2021

The recent surge of COVID cases in Taiwan has prompted SHL Medical to take action on tightening the precautionary COVID restrictions in Taiwan’s office and production sites, following the government’s decision to raise the pandemic alert warning. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the company has taken proactive measures to protect the health and safety of our staff and ensure the continuity of drug delivery products for our customers and end-users.

Our manufacturing, supply, and office work maintain regular operations under the precautionary measures we have implemented to help reduce human contact. We are constantly tracking the government’s policies concerning COVID developments, so as to adapt and make adjustments to our manpower allocation or shift schedules.

To this end, we have worked tirelessly and relentlessly to ensure business continuity, as well as preventing the potential spread of COVID within company quarters. Our frequent travel history survey and on-site infirmary staff support us in tracking colleagues’ health and safety.

Our aim is to continue business operations while still providing quality service to our customers during such critical times.

 

A detailed description of SHL Medical’s COVID response are provided below:  

Product manufacturing and quality

For product manufacturing and quality assurance/control, we continue to maintain business-as-usual production. SHL maintains the constant vetting of all manufacturing systems, such as maintaining Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), including measures to ensure the safe and timely delivery of products and services.

Supply chain management

As a business continuity measure, our Supply Chain has increased the frequency of sales and operation (S&OP) meetings with critical suppliers. Critical suppliers have been assessed and categorized to ensure that all have shortened S&OP intervals to enable early intervention and mitigate supply risk. Our team is actively monitoring the SC assessment, including safety stock, supplier commitments, logistics and shipping schedules.

Management and mitigation of staff risk

We have implemented home office and split team, split sites in Taiwan to manage risk and ensure business continuity. All visitors are prohibited from Taiwan’s site. Manufacturing shifts have been re-arranged and staff may work in one site only.

SHL Medical’s manufacturing sites in Taiwan have implemented additional controls on building entry for all staff and visitors. Non-operational deliveries to sites are prohibited and entrance is tightly controlled. Operational deliveries are strictly monitored.

Epidemic response team

We have established a cross-functional epidemic response team that includes staff from Human Resources, Quality Control, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Environment Health and Safety departments. The team meets daily and reports to senior leadership about recommendations on business continuity. This includes constantly updated preparation work and the establishment of external trigger points for response in all workstreams.

The well-being of our staff

To ensure our staff remains healthy SHL Medical proactively shares preventive measures and news updates, as well as clearly communicating company policies aimed at ensuring transmission prevention. We explicitly and frequently communicate preventive measures which include posting effective handwashing methods in public areas, while increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in heavy-use areas at our facilities. Staff seating in the canteen and meeting rooms has been rearranged, with all seating a meter apart. Lunch shifts are split and chatting in enclosed spaces or during meals is discouraged.

This is a non-exhaustive list of measures that SHL Medical is undertaking to ensure our commitment to our staff and customers. SHL Medical is taking a proactive and detailed approach in monitoring, managing, and preventing any disruption of the timely delivery of all products.

 

Please contact us for any further inquiries on the above.