Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore - Cheaper medicine for civil servants

Cheaper medicine for civil servants

Letter to Straits Times Forum, May 12, 2008

ON MAY 3, my husband, a retired civil servant, and I went to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) pharmacy to collect Glucosamine capsules prescribed to me by an SGH specialist doctor. We are entitled to civil service medical benefits.
When the capsules were given to us, we asked the pharmacist why my friend, who is not a civil servant but had the same prescription, was given a different type of medicine. He said private patients were normally given 'branded' medicine but we were given a different type which was cheaper.

When we asked if the cheaper medicine was less effective, he said it was just as good.

I then asked why private patients were given more expensive medicine and not 'equally good but cheaper' medicine. He could only say: 'Cannot, they are private patients.'

Perhaps SGH can explain why private patients are not given 'equally good but cheaper' medicine.

Chin Fong (Mdm)

Comments (2) add comment

Sherine Wong: ...

Most people may think that expensive drugs are definitely more effective than cheaper drugs. It may not be true sometimes. Companies selling expensive branded drugs put lots of money on marketing. It would add up to the cost of the drug and the selling price would be higher. Therefore, expensive branded drugs can be equally good as cheap generic drugs.

For dispensing of branded or generic drugs to the civil servants, it is not the choice of the particular pharmacist. It is decided by the civil service department. Madam Chin Fong would be better to check with the civil service department instead of the hospital.

May 29, 2008

firet: Why branded and generic drugs are sold

I REFER to Madam Chin Fong's letter on Monday, 'Cheaper medicine for civil servants'.

To ensure that drug costs remain affordable to all, SGH Pharmacy stocks 'branded' drugs as well as their generic equivalents which are cheaper, and comparable in safety and effectiveness.

Although we dispense according to the doctor's prescription, private patients may opt for the 'branded' drugs or cheaper alternatives.

Lim Mun Moon
Head, Pharmacy,
Singapore General Hospital

May 21, 2008

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