Further Measures by Public Healthcare Institutions to Promote and Increase Public Awareness of Option of Medication Delivery among Patients
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns measures to increase public awareness of medication delivery options, as raised by Mr Christopher de Souza. Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that institutions promote these services via media like posters, videos, and MOH’s HealthHub, noting a tenfold uptake increase during the pandemic. Clinic and pharmacy staff proactively inform eligible patients about delivery, while some individuals meeting specific criteria are automatically enrolled in the service. Collection options include Pilbox lockers, parcel deposit lockers, and retail pharmacies, which are advertised on polyclinic websites and the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore website. Patients may consult pharmacy staff at public healthcare institutions to learn more and arrange for their preferred medication delivery or collection methods.
Transcript
16 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Health what further measures can public healthcare institutions put in place to promote and increase public awareness among patients of the option of medication delivery.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Public healthcare institutions have been providing medication delivery services since 2003, and uptake has increased tenfold during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public healthcare institutions are promoting public awareness of the service over different mediums (videos, pamphlets, posters and signages) at patient waiting areas as well as the websites and mobile apps of the healthcare institutions. A summary of available services is also available on MOH’s HealthHub one stop-portal and mobile app and the website of the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore.
In addition, staff at public healthcare institutions actively inform eligible patients about medication delivery options through their clinics, pharmacies, call centers and other patient touch points. In some instances, patients who meet the criteria for the service might be automatically enrolled.
Besides medicine delivery services, selected polyclinics also offer the option of medicine collection from Pilbox lockers, selected parcel deposit lockers or certain retail pharmacy outlets. These services are advertised through notices at the pharmacy and on the polyclinic website.
Patients may approach the pharmacy staff at the public healthcare institutions for more information and to arrange for medication delivery or collection.