Allowing Private Healthcare Providers Access to Medications Not Found on Healthier SG Medication List

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry plans to allow private healthcare providers to procure drugs not included in the Healthier SG Medication List from the Government's central healthcare procurement agency, Agency of Logistics and Procurement Services (ALPS); (b) if so, what is the timeline for implementation; and (c) if not, why not.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health has no plans to allow private healthcare providers to procure drugs not included in the Healthier SG (HSG) Medication List from the Agency of Logistics and Procurement Services (ALPS), because this can be construed as a centralised national healthcare procurement strategy.

For a small market, like Singapore, this can have significant consequences. It may mean less favourable prices being secured through negotiations for subsidised patients, less incentive for pharmaceutical companies to enter the market and hence limiting the range of drugs available in Singapore.