‘Cost Assessment Panel’ is established to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies, evaluate the cost effectiveness of a new drug and its total cost impact, striving to reduce the costs of introducing new drugs, which are mostly patent-protected. HA also invites Experts to commission health economic evaluation studies, if required, for comprehensive evaluation of a new drug.

To shorten the lead time for introducing new drugs to the Drug Formulary, HA has simplified the New Drug Application process. HA Clinicians and pharmaceutical companies can submit New Drug Applications directly.

To expedite introduction of suitable new drugs and clinical indications to the safety net, HA Clinicians and pharmaceutical companies can directly submit applications for expanding HA’s safety net to cover additional new drugs. The frequency of prioritisation exercises for including new drugs in the safety net has increased to quarterly since 2025/26.

February 2026