Data of Patients From Specialist Outpatient Clinics at Public Hospitals and Polyclinics Declining Collection of Medication in Last Five Years

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2399 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 22 NOVEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
MP for Aljunied GRC

Question No. 5224

To ask the Minister for Health (a) in each of the last five years, how many times have patients from specialist outpatient clinics at public hospitals and polyclinics declined to collect their prescribed medication; (b) what is the average price of medication declined to be collected by patients; (c) what are the common reasons cited for non-collection; and (d) whether the Ministry will consider collecting such data if it is not currently doing so.

Answer

Ministry of Health does not track the number of times patients from specialist outpatient clinics at public hospitals and polyclinics declined to collect their prescribed medication. We also do not monitor the average price of such medication.

A research study published in March 2023 concluded that a wide range of non-cost related factors influenced medication adherence. This includes concern about side effects, lack of knowledge of the medication and the disease.