Debated in Parliament on 4 Apr 2022.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Health (a) how will the Ministry determine which polyclinics and Public Health Preparedness Clinics prescribe Paxlovid for COVID-19 treatment; (b) when is the roll-out expected to be completed; and (c) whether the Ministry will cover the cost of Paxlovid for unvaccinated persons who are not medically-exempted from COVID-19 vaccination.
All polyclinics and 20 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) are currently participating in a pilot programme to prescribe Paxlovid to clinically eligible patients in the community. The 20 PHPCs were selected by Primary Care Networks (PCN) based on their readiness to participate in the programme and are located across the island. We may extend this clinical service to more PHPCs after reviewing the experience and outcomes. Starting from 18 March 2022, eligible patients may be referred to the participating PHPCs or polyclinics for a consultation and prescription of Paxlovid, if appropriate.
Paxlovid can be prescribed for any eligible COVID-19 patient who presents within five days of illness and meets the relevant clinical criteria. MOH has been monitoring the demand closely and maintaining a healthy stock of Paxlovid.
For now, MOH will fully cover the drug cost of Paxlovid use in primary care settings, regardless of vaccination status, as it can reduce the likelihood of high-risk patients developing severe COVID-19 and requiring hospital admission. The charging policy for Paxlovid will be reviewed in due course.
PAPERCUTS