Zuellig Pharma (Singapore) Pte Ltd

2021

Industry Champions of the Year

Zuellig Pharma (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Industry Champions of the Year

2021

about Zuellig Pharma (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Ahead Of The Pack 

Making Healthcare More Accessible in Singapore

As one of the largest healthcare services groups in Asia, Zuellig Pharma began almost a hundred years ago in the Philippines and has since grown to become a US$13 billion business covering 13 markets with over 12,000 employees. The Singapore office was established in 1939 as the first subsidiary office in the company’s first step towards regional expansion. 

With over 80 years of experience, Zuellig Pharma Singapore provides world-class distribution, digital and commercial services to more than 6,000 customers domestically. The company is a leader in the warehousing and distribution of pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare and has longstanding partnerships with the world’s top pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, and medical devices and diagnostics companies. 

Handling majority of the nation’s total biologics, Zuellig Pharma Singapore’s purposefully built warehouse facility has one of the largest drive-in cold rooms in Singapore with multiple-linked chambers to cater to a wide range of healthcare products with different storage requirements. Setting itself apart from competitors, the veteran company is a leader in its field with a proven track record, offering local expertise, deep market knowledge and extensive channel coverage.

Through the Zuellig Pharma Therapeutics Business Unit, the company strives to be recognised as the go-to commercialisation partner to improve the lives of patients by providing innovative and cutting-edge products. Their highly competent sales and marketing teams and in-depth knowledge of Singapore’s regulatory framework allows them to improve access to advanced medicines that matter to patients.

Zuellig Pharma Singapore’s reputation as a valued healthcare partner is built on an extensive history of dedication to uphold the highest standards of ethics and conduct, with a reputation for delivering with integrity, trust and resilience. To ensure responsible behaviour throughout the organisation, the company conducts annual refreshers on Compliance, Quality and IT Security for all employees. Its warehouses undergo regular audits and are internationally recognised to ensure the integrity of its supply chain and to safeguard the quality and security of healthcare products. Accreditation from Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) bear testimony to the high standards of security protection in the company’s supply chain.

With a focus on the long-term future of its employees, clients and customers, Zuellig Pharma Singapore charted its success by placing a strong emphasis on sustainability. The company takes concrete efforts to embed its sustainability agenda across the organisation. In 2020, Zuellig Pharma held its inaugural Sustainability Month in November where employees participated in future-focused activities including planting 2,000 trees in the Philippines. Collaborating with its tree-planting partner EcoMatcher to raise environmental awareness, employees could adopt their own tree and view its growth progress. The trees are expected to sequester 625 tons of CO2 in their lifetimes. In recognition of the company’s commitment to sustainability initiatives, Zuellig Pharma was awarded the Ecovadis Gold Medal for 2021, placing them at the top 1 percent of their industry.

Guided by its purpose of Making Healthcare More Accessible, Zuellig Pharma Singapore has been firmly focused on leveraging its digital and data analytics capabilities to develop innovative solutions for its clients and customers. As such, digital transformation is one of the key investment pillars in driving growth at the company.

Recognising the industry’s trend towards technology adoption, Zuellig Pharma Singapore built online platforms to bring the industry onboard the digitisation journey. In-house solutions powered by data analytics helped drive productivity and provided value-add to clients and customers through business intelligence solutions, online ordering, and e-payment platforms. Due to its early adoption of digital solutions, Zuellig Pharma Singapore was quick to adapt to the challenges during the global pandemic as most of its processes could be done online and remotely. 

Learning from its past experiences in managing the impacts of SARS and H1N1 outbreaks, resiliency lies in the DNA of Zuellig Pharma Singapore. Despite the manifold challenges brought about by the global pandemic, the company remained resilient with uninterrupted service levels due to its robust infrastructure and sound Business Continuity Plan. To ensure healthcare remains accessible during these perilous times, Zuellig Pharma Singapore also worked closely with local governments and organisations to support the community. 

Internally, Zuellig Pharma Singapore took a conscious effort to keep their employees engaged during the pandemic by conducting various online campaigns and maintaining clear communication through regular updates on COVID-19 developments. 

Recognising that people are central to the success of their business, Zuellig Pharma Singapore places great emphasis in developing a diverse and inclusive workforce where employees feel valued, trusted and respected. Thus, it is no surprise that Zuellig Pharma Singapore has been named as one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for in Asia.

Zuellig Pharma Singapore believes in right-skilling their people and building talent from within. Learning and development is a core focus in managing its workforce, where employees are provided both training opportunities and new challenges on the job. For instance, the company provides pathways for high potential employees to hone their leadership skills through its Young Talent Program and Advanced Management Program. 

As a company that values people, Zuellig Pharma Singapore is also committed to contributing to the community. In 2020, Zuellig Pharma Singapore partnered with SingTheatre for the soft launch of their “365 Days of Music @SingHealth” programme. This initiative aimed to bring one hour of live music daily to local healthcare institutions including the Singapore General Hospital and KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital. As part of the partnership, 38 employees from Zuellig Pharma Singapore formed a choir to spread the good cheer of music to patients and healthcare workers.

Looking ahead, Zuellig Pharma Singapore will continue to grow and maintain its leadership position by strengthening its core business, drive digital transformation across the organisation and spearhead impactful and innovative digital solutions to support the healthcare industry and the community it serves.

“Zuellig Pharma’s synergistic efforts up, down and around their employee and supplier chain has resulted in a powerful demonstration of how corporate might can drive societal change. Incisive leadership, thought-and-policy-driven codes of conduct, and the belief that it can and must do better, is the reason this healthcare colossus scores so well on our assessment scales.

Shanggari Balakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer, MORS Group

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