Introduction
In the face of Singapore’s current population ageing and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, which, of course, raises the issue of access to affordable quality healthcare is now an urgent issue. The National Medicines Policy (NMP) is an overall policy framework formulated to deal with these issues of evolution so that the current scheme of sustainability is also maintained along with the affordability of the healthcare financing system. The report by He & Tang (2021) expounds upon the objectives, advantages, and disadvantages of the NMP along with its significance for the home healthcare system of Singapore. It emphasizes the themes of population demographics, healthcare needs, economic matters, workforce competencies, technological evolution, and international healthcare developments. It follows the report, further puts forward the health literacy indicators in relation to the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and explores the positive and negative aspects of the NMP.
The Need for Singapore’s National Medicines Policy
Singapore’s National Medicines Policy (NMP) aims to help the healthcare sector cope with an ageing population and rising chronic illness rates. Because chronic diseases cause most deaths, Chung and Griffiths (2021) predict that global life expectancy is increasing. Thus, improving access and cost of healthcare is crucial. Opposed to these critical issues, the NMP approach seeks to restore sympathy, help fill gaps and reconcile affordable health finance with sustainability. To adapt to Singapore’s changing healthcare environment, the plan prioritizes affordability, accessibility, quality, reasonable drug use, and sustainability. This makes the healthcare system efficient, equitable, and able to meet people’s demands.
Population Needs and Healthcare Landscape
The Aging Population and Chronic Diseases
The elderly population in Singapore is set to rise rapidly, with the proportion of residents aged 65 and above projected to increase from 16.8% in 2022 to 25.4% by 2030 Chew & Towle (2021). This demographic shift is placing a heavy burden on the healthcare system, as an increasing number of older individuals require long-term care and are experiencing chronic conditions such as cancer, heart problems, and diabetes. Chronic ailments pose a significant challenge in Singapore at present, as they were responsible for nearly 60% of deaths in 2020. The increasing number of disease cases and the ageing population have created a pressing need for a comprehensive healthcare policy that ensures affordable and high-quality medical services for all.
Healthcare Workforce and Technology
Singapore’s highly specialized healthcare workforce improves following training. The government encourages healthcare personnel to study and upgrade their skills. However, chronic diseases and an ageing population have increased the need for medical services. Stressful labour has been done by the medical team near capacity. Jakovljevi and Sugahara (2021) note that the NMP is aware of the need to use technology and innovation to gather more data, save money, and enhance healthcare results. Electronic medical records and telemedicine are used to provide online access to health facility services and improve service delivery.
Shared Policy and Landscape
Public and private healthcare providers are found in Singapore being characteristic of the unique mix, with public-private partnerships being heavily emphasized. The policy looks at the development of partnerships and shared responsibility among all key players in the healthcare system: government bodies, medical providers, the pharmaceutical industry and patients (Burns & O’Donnell, 2022). The policy considers maintaining alignment with global trends and the same level of care in the field of healthcare. Apart from that, we must keep our eye trained on emerging treatments in disease prevention and continue cooperating with international agencies, along with other countries, so as to exchange experiences with regard to health care.
Affordability and Access to Healthcare
On the top of the NMP agenda is to keep healthcare an affordable and amenable service for all Singaporeans, irrespective of their class. The policy highlights the balancing act between enhancing affordability while maintaining the sustainability of the healthcare financing system. The policy introduces several key components required to achieve the balance which includes subsidies for medicines and encouragement of using generics and biosimilars (Hu & Zhou, 2022). The policy also underscores the need for strong procurement and supply systems to aid in resilience.
Prioritizing Health Literacy and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in the National Medicines Policy
The Singapore National Medicines Policy (NMP) emphasizes promoting health literacy and assuring the population’s effective use of medications. A monitoring tool has been created with specific QUM health literacy metrics. This tool will be used annually to assess the public’s understanding and knowledge of proper medical procedures. Pearce and Khoo (2019) argue that these indicators cover a wide range of understanding, including the effects of medications on addiction, knowledge of medication interactions, awareness of proper medication storage, instances of using expired medications, and the practice of taking medications prescribed to others. NMP aims to improve people’s comprehension and awareness of QUM values through extensive study and analysis. This will ultimately develop a culture of educated and careful pharmaceutical use among Singaporeans.
Pros and Cons of the National Medicines Policy
Pros
Comprehensive approach
The NMP applies a holistic approach to tackling different medicine supply-related issues, including access, quality, pharmaceutical use rationality, and sustainability. Such a multisectoral approach covers all key dimensions; hence, the policy encompasses each part of the issue completely.
Support for research and innovation
The procedure notes that medicine research and production are ongoing and can potentially discover new and more effective treatments. Healthcare in the digital era is being facilitated by the adoption of cloud computing among governments in order to cut down costs, enhance access, keep quality high and create new ideas (Raghavan & Taeihagh, 2021). The visionary attitude can be helpful to the country in order to keep abreast of cutting-edge trends and stay one of the most advanced healthcare systems worldwide.
Emphasis on collaboration and partnerships
The NMP promotes collaboration and partnerships among various stakeholders, including government agencies, healthcare providers, the pharmaceutical industry, and patients. This collaborative approach can foster a more cohesive and effective healthcare ecosystem.
Cons
Implementation challenges
Though the policy is based on a well-developed framework, at the stage of its implementation, a number of challenges emerge from the complexity of the healthcare environment and the participation of different stakeholders with their interests.
Cost implications
Parts of the action plan envisage enhancing affordability through subsidies and stimulating the use of generics and biosimilars. These can have quite a large effect on the resources of the government and healthcare providers. Achieving a balance between the costs and the necessity to sustain a sound healthcare financing system can bring lots of difficulties.
Regulatory challenges
The policy might need the establishment of regulatory frameworks and the development of enforcement mechanisms, which may be resource-intensive and time-consuming to implement.
Global Comparisons and Best Practices
Countries worldwide must ensure that healthcare is affordable and accessible, including drugs. Singapore’s National Medicines Policy can learn from other nations’ strategies. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia subsidizes a wide range of drugs. Income determines co-payments (McLachlan & Aslani, 2023). The system negotiates lower drug pricing with pharmaceutical companies using its purchasing power. New Zealand’s PHARMAC manages the pharmaceutical Budget and negotiates prices with drugmakers. To keep drug prices low, they use strict cost-effectiveness requirements and active bargaining. India’s AMRIT program promotes generics, biosimilars, centralized procurement, and price negotiations to cut cancer medicine and implant costs (McLachlan & Aslani, 2020). The UK Cancer Drugs Fund has sustainability issues, yet it has helped NHS patients finance pricey cancer therapies.
Significance of Affordability
Affordability is imperative for equitable health care and medicine access for all the populations in society. The lack of affordable care may result in individuals not receiving needed treatment or facing financial burdens. Hence, the health outcomes and the quality of people’s lives may be compromised. Additionally, the high cost of medicines can put pressure on healthcare systems and restrict the services that they can offer. According to Jakovljevic Sugahara (2021), through international experience, Singapore can fine-tune its approach to ensuring affordability while still sustaining the healthcare financing system. By learning from countries like Australia, New Zealand, India, and the United Kingdom, policies and strategies designed to fight for equitable access to medicine for Singaporean citizens can be informed.
Conclusion
The National Medicines Policy in Singapore is a comprehensive and forward-thinking policy designed to meet the evolving needs of Singapore’s healthcare system. The NMP type of policy would be comprehensive, taking into account affordability, accessibility, quality, rational use, and sustainability; its goal would be to create a healthcare system that is inclusive, efficient, and responsive to people’s needs. Despite the challenges of financial implications, stakeholder resistance, and regulatory impediments in policy implementation, the benefits of a well-executed policy are considerable. NMP has the potential to significantly enhance healthcare outcomes and Singaporeans’ overall well-being through collaboration, innovation, and a focus on affordability and access. With the occurrence of more older adults and the rising rates of chronic diseases, NMP will be the master plan of the healthcare system, capable of adapting and becoming resilient in order to keep up with it.
References
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