UPDATE ON COVID-19 POTENTIAL TREATMENTS AND TIGHTENING CONTROL OVER DRUGS SOLD ILLEGALLY

NOTICE PAPER NO. 793, 805
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 2 NOVEMBER 2021

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Joan Pereira
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Leong Mun Wai
Non-Constituency MP

Question No. 1978

To ask the Minister for Health (a) how does the Ministry track prescription drugs which have been imported, distributed or sold illegally in Singapore; and (b) what measures have been implemented to tighten control over the supply of these drugs to prevent them from reaching the wrong hands.

Question No. 2115

To ask the Minister for Health whether he can provide an update on the investigation of potential treatments for COVID-19.

Answer

1. Singapore has been closely tracking the progress of COVID-19 therapeutic options under development globally, and actively engaging key pharmaceutical companies.  As a result, we have procured in advance a portfolio of COVID-19 therapeutics. Our current treatment options consist of 5 classes of drugs: Steroids, Anti-virals (Remdesivir), Monoclonal Antibodies (Sotrovimab and Regeneron), IL-6 inhibitors (Tocilizumab) and JAK inhibitors (Baricitinib).  

2. All prescription medicines require approval by HSA before they can be legally supplied in Singapore and companies licensed to import or distribute prescription medicines are regularly audited. HSA works closely with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority to monitor and stop illegal imports of health products, and monitors various local online sales platforms to detect illegal sales of prescription medicines. Anyone who contravenes this law can be fined up to $50,000 and/or jailed for up to 2 years under the Health Products Act.