Procurement

Alex Zhang, Executive; 
Sheryl Lim, Executive;
Joseph Phee, Senior Officer;
Gan Kay Heng, Senior Executive
Procurement & Materials Management Team

Behind every mask, hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE) used during COVID-19, there is a story. For Farrer Park Hospital, it began with our Procurement and Materials Management team.

No one knew exactly how contagious the disease would be when it first started but one thing the team knew for sure was that masks were flying off shelves and sanitizers were running low on stock.

“When DORSCON Orange was first announced, PPE and consumables from our usual suppliers were all running low and in some cases, unpredictable. Disruption to the supply of medical products could put the health of our staff at risk and hasten the spread. We had to work doubly fast to ensure we secure enough materials for the Hospital,” shared Sheryl Lim, Procurement and Materials Management Executive.

The pressure heightened when they learned that the Hospital was taking in COVID-19 patients. This means they would have to secure even more supplies and ensure timely delivery to keep the front liners safe. Given the scarcity, the team also had to face the challenge of cost and source for alternative supply sources. On top of this, the team also had to deliver these supplies to where COVID-19 patients were housed at.

When asked if they had any concerns to deliver supplies to a COVID-19 facility, Senior Officer for Procurement and Materials Management Joseph Phee and Alex Zhang revealed: “There were fears for sure, but we trust the infection control measures and the process in place. Most importantly, we recognize how our role helps keep nurses and doctors safe so that they can focus on caring for the patients sent to us.

On their challenges and concerns, Sheryl said: “Most of our vendors were supportive of us and it really helped to ease the process. Most of our team members did not experience the 2003 SARS outbreak so when this pandemic hit us, we were caught a little off guard but thanks to our manager, Poh Ching’s support and cheerful encouragement, we managed to cruise through this hurdle together as a team joyfully. One of the classic jokes she’d always bring up is ‘Let’s quickly go qiang huo’ (snatch goods in Chinese),” laughed Sheryl.

When asked what does ‘heroes’ mean to them, the team agreed in unison that they did not really think much of the title. What matters most to them is that they all do their part during the pandemic to help patients recover.