‘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 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 exercise for including new drugs in the safety net is gradually increasing to quarterly in 2025/26.

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.

The HA Drug Formulary has been updated with effect from 25 Oct 2025.

The agenda for Drug Advisory Committee meeting in Nov 2025 has already been posted on HA homepage.