How we evaluate new drugs

The Drug Advisory Committee (DAC) evaluates applications for introducing new drugs and indications to the HA Drug Formulary. The Committee meets in every quarter.

DAC follows an evidence-based approach in evaluating new drug applications for listing on the HA Drug Formulary, having regard to the three principal considerations of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of drugs while taking into account other relevant factors, including international recommendations and practices, advance in technology, disease state, patient compliance, quality of life, actual experience in the use of drugs as well as views of professionals and patient groups.
Rapid advances in technology have brought many new drugs to the market, each with different level of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness. As demands for new drug treatments grow and vary widely in cost, therapeutic effectiveness, side effects and health outcome, it is imperative for HA, as a publicly funded organisation, to ensure rational use of limited resources in order to provide quality medical care and optimise the health benefits for the society. To ensure patients have equitable access to cost-effective drug treatments within the subsidised public healthcare system, HA has taken various measures to enhance the governance of the Drug Formulary.

Streamlined New Drug Listing Process


To shorten the lead time for introducing new drugs to the Drug Formulary, HA has simplified the New Drug Application process since the fall of 2024. HA Clinicians and pharmaceutical companies can submit New Drug Applications directly to DAC or Drug Formulary Committee (DFC), without routing through Cluster/ Hospital Drug and Therapeutics Committees (DTCs).

Increase in Frequency of Safety Net Prioritisation Exercise


To expedite introduction of suitable new drugs and clinical indications to the safety net, DAC has accepted direct applications for expanding HA’s safety net to cover additional new drugs submitted by HA Clinicians and pharmaceutical companies since the fall of 2024. The frequency of prioritisation exercise for including new drugs in the safety net is gradually increasing from half-yearly to quarterly (in 2025/26).

Cost Assessment Panel

HA has established a ‘Cost Assessment Panel’ 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.
The following categories of drugs fall outside the scope of DAC evaluation and require endorsement of the Drug Formulary Committee (DFC) for listing on the HA Drug Formulary:

a)    antidotes and drugs used for emergency response;
b)    antiseptics and disinfectants;
c)    blood products (excluding recombinant preparations);
d)    diagnostic agents (including radiopharmaceuticals);
e)    fluids and electrolytes;
f)     intravenous and oral nutrition;
g)    medical gases;
h)    peritoneal and haemodialysis fluids;
i)     vaccines;
j)     vitamins and mineral supplements; and
k)   new presentation or strength of an existing drug in the HA Drug Formulary for the same indication and without price premium.

Recommended new drugs / indications will be listed on the HA Drug Formulary after the DAC meeting.  Public can assess the meeting agenda, schedule and outcomes in the internet website of the HA Drug Formulary.
HA Drug Advisory Committee
HA Drug Formulary Committee