How to keep your most precious assets safe: A PRIME example

A strong family is one that helps its members unite in solidarity during a crisis and PRIME Healthcare Group can confidently lay claim to this achievement.

In this unprecedented global pandemic, we crossed another milestone: every one of Prime Group’s 1,780 members, whom I consider my family, has been vaccinated for COVID-19. This 100 per cent success rate for all eligible staff was reached in a record two months.

How did we meet this challenge?

By creating a level field for all employees. From the pandemic’s onset, our aim was to keep our frontline warriors safe and instil a sense of safety in every employee (and patient). With an early Call to Action in March 2020, we set up a taskforce to combat the pandemic, working shoulder-to shoulder with UAE government’s objectives. Introducing the vaccination drive in early December 2020, the task force educated employees, offered psychosocial counselling and quelled all unfounded vaccine-related fears 24/7. It used a multi-pronged strategy and solution-focused thinking to achieve its objective. For example, Prime Medical Centers in Sharjah and Ajman were chosen by the Ministry of Health and Prevention as vaccination centers, but we also offered our employees the option of getting vaccinated at designated government centers, providing them free transport to and from the venues. We set up an internal portal for employees to update their vaccination status, which was tracked daily, with our taskforce posting regular updates on the vaccination program. 

The result? A sense of ownership, safety and high levels of motivation in the PRIME family.

The success of this initiative is driven by one of our group’s core values: employee welfare. 

I firmly believe that employees are the true human capital, the most precious asset, for any successful company, and Dr Tasneem, Deputy Managing Director & Director Medical Affairs, shares this conviction. Over the decades, we have willingly invested time and effort in building a special bond with each of our employees. Prime Healthcare has several employee welfare platforms and forums. One of our most successful efforts has been the creation of the PRIME Employees Welfare Fund to provide financial assistance to employees or their immediate family in emergencies. 

I feel humbled and inspired by the fact that we have one of the highest employee retention rates in the health sector. The pandemic has reiterated my abiding conviction: a family that faces a crisis together stays together.