iCare’s Wake-Up Call to Better Sleep
In a country where the workforce powers a thriving BPO sector and drives global business operations around the clock, healthcare must evolve to meet the demands of modern life. iCare, the best affordable HMO in the Philippines, responded to this challenge through the launch of the iCare Sleep Better program. This innovative, value-added service was created to support the health and productivity of its corporate clients, particularly those in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.
The BPO sector is a vital pillar of the Philippine economy, employing over 1.5 million Filipinos and contributing approximately 30 billion US dollars annually to national GDP. However, the nature of BPO work often involves irregular hours, overnight shifts, and heightened stress levels. These conditions place employees at increased risk for sleep-related disorders, chronic fatigue, and long-term health concerns. In response to these challenges, iCare developed iCare Sleep Better not merely as a wellness campaign, but as a strategic health initiative aimed at supporting the holistic well-being of the country’s night-shift and high-demand workers.
To bring this vision to life, iCare partnered with Dr. Wong Sheau Hwa, a respected psychiatrist and sleep specialist from SW Wong Sleep and Psychological Wellness Clinic, who also serves as a Visiting Psychiatrist at Singapore General Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Unit. Under his guidance, the iCare Sleep Better program was designed as a science-based initiative focused on education, behavior modification, and long-term wellness. It includes expert-led symposia, webinars, mobile-accessible content, and culturally relevant tools tailored to the needs of Filipino shift workers, particularly those experiencing Shift Work Sleep Disorder.
The program is accessible through iCare’s digital platforms, making it scalable and convenient for both employees and HR leaders. Since its launch, iCare Sleep Better has enhanced client value, improved employee engagement, and addressed one of the most under-discussed but widespread health risks in the modern workforce: sleep deprivation. Early feedback from companies points to a rise in employee awareness, reduced absenteeism, and increased openness to preventive care.
Sleep Study in the Philippines
Scientific evidence reinforces the need for programs like Sleep Better. One study showed that individuals who sleep less than seven hours a night are three times more likely to catch the common cold, while those who sleep fewer than five hours have a 70 percent greater likelihood of developing pneumonia. A 2023 regional study revealed that 56 percent of Filipinos sleep less than seven hours a day, placing the Philippines among the most sleep-deprived populations in Asia. These findings highlight a growing public health concern and confirm that the Sleep Better program is both timely and necessary in supporting the long-term wellness of the Filipino workforce.
To address the gap in quality sleep, iCare created a health solution driven by innovative and excellent customer care, resulting in the introduction of the Sleep Better program to iCare members.
Meet Our Sleep Expert, Dr. Wong Sheau Hwa
In part of the Sleep Better program, iCare recently partnered with sleep expert Dr. Wong Sheau Hwa, who is a visiting psychiatrist of the Sleep Disorders Unit at Singapore General Hospital.
He previously joined the Singapore Air Force, wherein he first did his specialty training in aviation medicine.
One of the topics Dr. Wong talked about is the prevalence of Shift Work Sleep Disorder among workers who work unconventional hours, which can be a common practice to the BPO industry.