International SOS introduces Covid-19 health pass in Singapore

International assistance company International SOS, the International Chamber of Commerce, and AOKpass Pte Ltd have introduced the health pass to help with a safe entry at border points. On 21 December, a Singapore citizen returning from Japan on Singapore Airlines flight SQ637 successfully used the ICC AOKpass for the first time, to officially present a negative Covid-19 PCR digital test result for arrival verification at Changi Airport’s immigration counters.

This was the first time an immigration authority had used a blockchain-based, digitally verifiable health certificate. Shinagawa East Medical Clinic issued the digital certificate on ICC AOKpass, which was scanned by Affinidi’s Universal Verifier solution at Changi Airport.

Following the successful pilot programme, all travellers, starting with those in Malaysia and Indonesia, will now be able to use ICC AOKpass to digitally authenticate their Covid-19 test results, as well as any other necessary health credentials during immigration at Changi Airport. These travellers will each receive their test result with a unique QR code in their ICC AOKpass app, which authenticates and securely stores their negative Covid-19 test results.

Reducing the risk of crowds at the airport

The digital health pass facilitates faster immigration checkpoint clearance for travellers, enables more hassle-free travel, and reduces risks of crowds at the airport. At the same time, authorities will be able to combat incidence of Covid-19 test fraud and implement a global standard for travelling, which will further enhance efforts to ensure the safe resumption of global travel.

In the coming months, the pilot programme will be progressively rolled out to other international travellers, allowing for quicker, hassle-free travel.

Technology will facilitate a return to travel

Juliana Gim, Managing Director of International SOS Singapore, explained: “Facilitating the first digital certificate entry into Singapore is yet another important milestone in the resumption of global travel during the Covid-19 outbreak. With the adoption of ICC AOKpass at Changi Airport, alongside our global network of 90,000 providers, we strongly believe such secure technology will be instrumental in establishing a trusted and standardised global system to facilitate the return to work and travel across all industries, with Singapore at the forefront of these efforts.”

The ability to authenticate health records at border points of entry will help with the safe resumption of international travel during the global pandemic. Similar programmes are being rolled out around the world, including the International Air Transport Association Travel Pass.