Update on COVID-19 Potential Treatments and Tightening Control over Drugs Sold Illegally

22 Ms Joan Pereira asked 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.

23 Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Health whether he can provide an update on the investigation of potential treatments for COVID-19.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: 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 five classes of drugs: steroids, anti-virals (Remdesivir), monoclonal antibodies (Sotrovimab and Regeneron), IL-6 inhibitors (Tocilizumab) and JAK inhibitors (Baricitinib).

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 and Checkpoints Authority to monitor and stop illegal imports of health products and monitor 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 two years under the Health Products Act.