AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, marked its 185th anniversary by announcing a major milestone in its global health efforts: the completion of 10,000 free cleft surgeries for children through its partnership with Operation Smile.
The Hong Kong-based company said the target was reached ahead of schedule under its “Give a Smile” campaign, launched in 2018 to support children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Building on the achievement, AS Watson announced a new goal of funding 15,000 surgeries by 2030.
Founded in 1840 as Hong Kong’s first Western pharmacy, AS Watson has grown into a global retail group with operations across health, beauty, and personal care. The company said the anniversary reflects both its expansion and a long-standing commitment to community care.
“As we mark 185 years, I am deeply proud of how AS Watson has grown from a single pharmacy in Hong Kong to a global leader in health and beauty retail,” said Group CEO Malina Ngai.
The executive credited the company’s 130,000 employees, customers, and partners for supporting its social initiatives and said care for communities remains central to its mission.
AS Watson said, its early years included providing free medicines to people in need, a practice it described as the foundation of its present corporate social responsibility programs. That approach later shaped the “Give a Smile” campaign, which supports comprehensive cleft care, including surgery, follow-up treatment, and community outreach.
Operation Smile said a child is born with a cleft condition about every three minutes worldwide, and access to surgical care remains limited in many regions. Kathy Magee, co-founder, president, and CEO of Operation Smile, said AS Watson’s support has helped narrow gaps in access to care for thousands of patients.
“Thanks to AS Watson, we are able to provide essential surgical and comprehensive cleft care for thousands of patients,” Magee said, congratulating the company on its anniversary and the 10,000-surgery milestone.
Ngai said customer donations and participation have played a key role in funding the surgeries. She added that the company plans to continue raising funds and involving customers in efforts to support children with cleft conditions.
