Over the Counter Diagnostic Test Kits

Name and Constituency of Member of ParliamentMr Dennis Tan Lip FongMP for Hougang

Question No. 685

To ask the Minister for Health whether the Government intends to allow over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test kits like the Ellume COVID-19 Home Test now authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration to enable self-testing by individuals, commercial entities or non-governmental organisations and reduce pressure on state resources.

Written Answer

 
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has to date not received any applications for over-the-counter (OTC) self-administered COVID-19 diagnostic test kits to be registered and brought into Singapore. Any supplier who wishes to provide such test kits may apply to HSA. Nonetheless, HSA has given provisional approval to Antigen Rapid Test kits which use the same technology but are meant to be administered by trained personnel.

At present, we have sufficient overall testing capacity to meet our public health needs. Anyone who wishes to be tested can also do so, at the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s list of approved GP clinics that offer such testing. There are no restrictions and no waiting lists.

MOH will continue to monitor and evaluate new testing and sampling methods, and will approve new technologies that are safe, effective and which fulfil our testing needs.