Reviews to ensure drug affordability

MOH's reply

The Straits Times, 15 January 2015

Reviews to ensure drug affordability

Ms Lim Lih Mei asked how medication is categorised in our public healthcare institutions into standard and non-standard categories. ("What makes a drug 'non-standard'?"; 7 Jan 2015).

The Government subsidises drugs on the Standard Drug List (SDL) and the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF), for subsidised patients at public healthcare institutions. Since 1 Jan, additional subsidies for lower- to middle-income Singaporeans and the Pioneer Generation (PG) kicked in. The list of subsidised drugs can be found on the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s website here.

Our list of subsidised drugs on the SDL was modelled after the World Health Organisation’s Essential Drug List, with modifications to suit local disease profiles and practice. The list of subsidised drugs is reviewed on an ongoing basis to take into account changes in clinical practice, advances in medical science, and evolving needs of patients. The assessment is done objectively and professionally by the Drug Advisory Committee (DAC) which comprises senior clinicians, and chaired by the Director of Medical Services.

The DAC, with inputs from other clinicians, considers three main factors when determining whether a drug can be subsidised. First, whether the drug is essential for the treatment of medical conditions that are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Singapore. Second, whether the drug offers a major improvement in terms of efficacy and effectiveness, as compared to existing subsidised drugs. Third, whether there is sufficient evidence of long term safety and cost-benefits of the drug. As such, certain multi-vitamins such as Vitamin B complex, iron with multivitamins, Vitamin C and calcium tablets are subsidised, while health supplements like glucosamine, are not subsidised.

The cost of such essential drugs are subsidised for patients to improve their affordability. About 90% of the drugs that are prescribed at public healthcare institutions are standard drugs. Eligible patients who require non-standard drugs that are assessed to be clinically necessary and appropriate for their treatment also receive subsidies when the MAF was enhanced in 2011.

Lim Bee Khim (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health

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Forum Letter

The Straits Times, 7 January 2015

What makes a drug 'non-standard'?

I applaud efforts by our Government to offer higher medical subsidies to members of the pioneer generation ("Higher drug subsidies a welcome boon for the new year"; 3 Jan).

The subsidies cover only standard medication. There are several non-standard drugs commonly prescribed to Pioneer Generation cardholders. Most of these drugs are expensive and can burn a hole in the pockets of our pioneers.

How are drugs grouped into standard and non-standard categories? Is a bottle of multi-vitamins considered non-standard medication and thus not eligible for subsidies?

Lim Lih Mei (Ms)