ALLOWING PRIVATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS NOT FOUND ON HEALTHIER SG MEDICATION LIST

NOTICE PAPER NO. 550

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 27 FEBRUARY 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis

MP for Sengkang GRC

Question No. 1105

To ask 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.

Answer

1         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.

2         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.