Update on Telepharmacy Project
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the inquiry by Mr Seah Kian Peng regarding the outcome of the 1997 telepharmacy pilot and whether video medical consultations can lower costs and improve public convenience. Minister Gan Kim Yong responded that 146 retail outlets, including Guardian, Unity, and Watsons, now provide telepharmacy services, which were expanded in 2009 to include prescription-only medicines. He highlighted the April 2017 launch of the Smart Health Video Consultation platform at KK Women’s and Children's Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital to facilitate new service models. Minister Gan Kim Yong noted that the Health Sciences Authority regulates these services and reviews regulations to ensure safety while keeping pace with technological changes. Finally, he stated that the Ministry of Health welcomes opportunities to collaborate with care providers and pharmacies to co-create new solutions that enhance service to patients.
Transcript
25 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Health what is the outcome of the telepharmacy project first piloted in 1997 and whether such services, including that of allowing medical consultations by video, can help to lower costs and improve convenience to the public.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Telepharmacy can improve productivity and convenience for customers. It is regulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to ensure that providers put in place the necessary controls and safeguards.
Since the first pilot in 1997, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and HSA have expanded the scope of telepharmacy services. For example, pharmacies were allowed in 2009 to provide prescription-only medicines through telepharmacy. Previously, this was only allowed for non-prescription medicines.
To date, 146 retail pharmacy outlets are offering telepharmacy services. These include outlets at the three largest retail pharmacy chains, namely, Guardian Pharmacy, Unity Pharmacy and Watsons.
In April 2017, MOH launched a Smart Health Video Consultation platform to enable our public healthcare institutions to provide different services through video consultation. These include a new model of telepharmacy service at KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
HSA will continue to review the regulations for telepharmacy services to keep up with technological changes and provide better service to patients. We also welcome opportunities to collaborate with care providers and retail pharmacies to co-create new solutions in this area.