Country Scan

Singapore

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 Pharmaceutical Industry Insight on Singapore

COUNTRY OVERVIEW ECONOMY-OVERVIEW

VITAL FACTS: SINGAPORE
Singapore, one of the world's most prosperous Area 692.7 sq km
countries with strong international trading links, Population 4,353,893
is located in the Southeastern Asian islands Population growth 1.71%
between Malaysia and Indonesia. It was founded rate
as a British trading colony in 1819, later joined Birth Rate 9.63 per 1,000
the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but after two
Death Rate 4.05 per 1000
years separated and became independent. It’s
strategic location on major sea lanes and Net migration rate 11.53 per 1000
industrious population has given an economic Literacy rate 92.5%
importance in Southeast Asia against its small Government Republic
size. In terms of per capita GDP it is equal to Capital City Singapore
that of the leading nations of Western Europe GDP per capita US$23,700 (2004 )
being slightly more than 3.5 times the size of
Real GDP growth 1.1%
Washington, DC.
Inflation rate 0.5%
Currency Singapore dollar
(SGD)
Exchange Rate 1.632 per USD
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March
Source: www.CIA.gov
Singapore has been declared the best managed
city by a global property consultancy Jones Lang
LaSalle. Singapore has a highly developed and
successful free market economy which gives a
corruption free environment and stable prices. It
is proud to have fifth highest per capita GDP in
the world. Services contribute above 67 per cent
and industries contribute around 32 per cent to
the economy. The economy is highly dependent
on exports especially that of electronics and
manufacturing goods, though the existing
It spreads across 692.7 sq km having 193 km of industries are electronics, chemicals, financial
coastline. The weather can be described as services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum
tropical; it’s hot, humid and rainy. It has got two refining, rubber processing and rubber products,
distinct monsoon seasons Northeastern processed food and beverages, ship repair,
monsoon from December to March and offshore platform construction and life sciences.
Southwestern monsoon from June to It is learned that manufacturing and
September. The population is growing at 1.71 financial/business services are two driving
per cent with a size of around 4,353,893. The engines of the Singapore economy and
major ethnic groups residing here are Chinese accounted for 26 per cent and 63 per cent
(76.7%), Malay (14%), Indian (7.9%) and others respectively, of GDP in 2003. Singapore is
(1.4%). The official languages are Chinese, recognized as one of the most competitive
Tamil and English apart from Malay which is economies in the world, where more than
official as well as national language. It is a 10,000 trading companies use it as their
parliamentary republic with the conventional full distribution point for markets in the Asia-
name as Republic of Singapore. Pacific. In addition, more than 5,000 foreign
companies (including many of the Global 500)
also use Singapore as their Asia Pacific Base.
EXPORT & IMPORT Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the first half of
It is a major trading country whose exports and the year and continued weakness in the export
imports each generally exceed its GDP. The sector. Singapore has signed a free-trade
items that are primarily exported include agreement with the United States in 2003. With
machinery and equipment (including more than 300 factories and deepwater wharves,
electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, the Jurong Industrial Estate of Singapore is the
mineral fuels with the total export figure Southeast Asia's largest industrial complex.
touching nearly US$142.4 billion. The major
export partners are Malaysia (15.8%), US The government’s efforts to diversify the export
(14.3%), Hong Kong (10%), China (7%), Japan base and diminish an excessive reliance on
(6.7%), Taiwan (4.7%), Thailand (4.3%), South electronics are bearing fruit. Non-electronic
Korea (4.2%) according to 2003 statistics. The domestic exports have grown strongly since
items that are imported are machinery and 2002 registering a growth of 32 per cent in
nominal terms in 2003. Domestic exports of
External trade trend chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and
petrochemicals, increased by an impressive 77
300
per cent year on year (YoY) in nominal terms
250 between 2002 and 2003; between 2001 and
U S $ in b illion

200 2002, domestic exports of chemicals rose 27 per

150 cent. Disaggregated, the data for domestic
100 exports of pharmaceuticals alone is even more
impressive, up 167 per cent in nominal terms in
50
first half of 2003 over first half of 2002. Most
0 of Singapore’s pharmaceutical exports are
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004* intermediate products.
2004* ( * only 3 quarter )
Source : Economic Survey Singapore imports exports While the success of financial service sector has
equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs catapulted it to a very successful commercial
with an import size is of around US$121.6 hub, it has made Singapore vulnerable. Despite
billion. The import partners in 2003 were strict laws and enforcement, it is to be used as a
Malaysia (16.8%), US (14.1%), Japan (12%), transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a
China (8.7%), Taiwan (5.1%), Thailand (4.3%). venue for money laundering. Apart from that,
Malaysia is Singapore's main import source, as the increasing importance of China in
well as its largest export market, absorbing 16 manufacturing and finance, however, is seen as a
per cent of Singapore's exports, closely followed threat to Singapore's future economic growth.
by United States. In 2002 re-exports was
accounted for 47 per cent of Singapore's total
sales to other countries. PHARMACEUTICALS INDUSTRY
The pharmaceutical industry in Singapore may
The imports and exports of Singapore are very have taken the first step way back in 1970s but
high. It is one of the world's greatest in the last five years since 1999 it has come into
commercial centers, with a large, modern port. limelight contributing highly to economy and
The government promotes high levels of savings poising to become Biomedical Science hub of
and investment through a mandatory savings Asia. Singapore’s total biomedical
scheme and spends heavily on education and manufacturing output has recorded above 8 per
technology. With economic prosperity and cent of growth rate in 2003 over 2002’s US$5.61
globalization, the country is positioning itself as billion. Biomedical includes basic and clinical
the region's financial and high-tech hub. The research, clinical development, products and
economy weathered in 1997 regional financial process development and manufacturing of
crisis but managed a growth rate of 9.4 per cent pharmaceuticals and biotech apart from
for 2000. But then economic recession in United healthcare services. The biomedical sciences
States, Japan, and the European Union, as well industry has shown a great potential and has
as the worldwide electronics slump, pulled the generated revenues of around US$5.6 billion
GDP down. Again it rebounded in 2002, during 2002, recording 16 per cent growth on
certainly registering a lower (0%-1%) growth in the previous year. Within this sector,
2003, given the effect of Severe Acute
 pharmaceutical manufacturing contributes The Center for Pharmaceutical Administration
around 85 per cent of total sector output. (CPA) authorizes the production and import of
all pharmaceutical products on the basis of
quality, safety and effectiveness. No import
PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET
taxes or duties are imposed on imports of
Singapore’s pharmaceutical market was worth an pharmaceutical products. The Ministry of
estimated US$460 million (m) in 2002, Health purchases all pharmaceutical drugs for
according to Espicom Business Intelligence, a public hospitals through the CPA. Local
UK-based market research firm. It is estimated distributors act as the main distribution
to be around US$520 million by end of 2003. channels, either on their own behalf or on the
behalf of foreign companies.
Singapore Pharmaceuticals Market Size
300 OTC MARKET
244 244 250 269
217 All public hospitals are required to use generic
200 185 products. As a result, the market for branded
U S $M

drugs is restricted. Total sales of over-the-

counter (OTC) drugs amounted to an estimated
100 US$139 million in 2002, down marginally from
US$141 million in 2001. The decline mainly
reflected reduced expenditure on advertising and
0 promotion by manufacturers and reduced
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 expenditure on health products by people owing
largely to a weak economy, which removed
demand for non-essential products and services.
Source: Cygnus Research,
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the market
Figures are as per the Ex manufacturers prices
grew in 2003 owing to health fears relating to
SARS.
(The figures that are given
in the adjacent chart are of Major Pharmaceutical Products in the Market
market size as per EX- Active
Manufacturers prices). Also Pharmaceutical
according to Espicom, the Brand Ingredient Therapeutic Indication Manufacturer
US, the UK and Belgium Lipitor Atorvastatin Cholesterol lowering agent Pfizer
are the main export Zocor Simvastatin Cholesterol lowering agent Merck
markets. Other key
markets are Malaysia, Norvasc Amlodipine AntiHypertensive Pfizer
Thailand, and Taiwan. Losec Omeprazole Proton Pump Inhibitor Astra Zeneca
Switzerland and the US are Eprex Erythropoietin Erythropoietin Stimulant Janssen
the main suppliers of
pharmaceuticals and
related products. Taxol Paclitaxel Anti-Cancer BMS
According to the Augmentin Amoxicillin Antibiotic GSK
Economic Development Albutein Hematology Green Cross
Board, non-oil domestic
Rocephin Ceftriaxone Antibiotic Roche
exports of medical and
pharmaceutical products Ciprobay Ciprofloxacin Antibiotic Bayer
totaled more than US$5 Platelet Aggregation
Clopidogrel Inhibitor / Hyper
billion in 2003. It is Plaviix Bisulfate Tension BMS
considered that
Viagra Sidenafil Urology Pfizer
pharmaceuticals and
Allendronate
semiconductor are among Fosamax sodium Osteoporosis Merck
the fastest growing Cholesterol Lowering
industries. Simvor Simvastatin agent Ranbaxy
Iressa Gefitinib Anti-Cancer Astra Zeneca
Sandimmun Immuno-Suppressive
Neoral Cyclosporin agent Novartis
Source: Cygnus Research
But in 2003, OTC healthcare in Singapore manufacturers are likely to stay relatively low-
registered a moderate growth of close to 6 per key in terms of advertising and promotion.
cent in terms of value. Singaporeans were more
inclined towards preventative healthcare Moreover, uncertainties in the economy and the
through their eating habits, indulging in health fear of SARS’ return will continue to trigger
supplements to combat SARS and exercising for consumers in Singapore to exercise caution in
long term healthcare cost containment. spending money unnecessarily on medical
However, with the exception of vitamins and products; on eating healthy and keeping sickness
dietary supplements, manufacturers generally at bay.
tended to be low-key with few new products
and little promotion. The Pharmaceuticals sector holds a prospect on
account of higher foreign investments by
multinational players coupled with policy and
Vitamins and dietary supplements experienced legislative steps by government to encourage
robust growth in 2003 but was somewhat pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies. After
negated, eventually. The catalyst for the stellar the 2001 slowdown of the US economy bringing
growth was largely driven by supplements which down demand for electronics, from 2002
promoted well-being and immunity boosting as onwards things improved and in order to widen
these products were snapped up by the Singapore’s economic base through new
Singaporeans due to SARS. Consequently, growth areas, the government has taken policy
vitamins and dietary supplements became the and legislative steps to encourage
star savior in the otherwise bleak OTC pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies to settle
healthcare industry. However, the limelight was there. Funds worth US$1.7 billion have been
short-lived. Vitamins and dietary supplements poured in universities and research centers as
were placed under scrutiny by the public and the growth pills for these sectors. So a favorable
local health authority with the malpractice of environment is expected for these sectors.
contract drug manufacturer, Pan Hence forth many multinational companies
Pharmaceuticals, resulting in the recall of many have made their move towards Singapore
brands. After this, vitamins and dietary recently and heavy inflow of investments is
supplements faced an uphill challenge with observed.
reversed fortunes amongst the leading players.
Factors attracting foreign investments in
The impetus for the growing importance of
Biomedical Sector
private labels in Singapore is largely due to the
price factor due to adverse economic conditions. 1. Infrastructure which supports advanced
In addition, Singaporeans saw no additional technology, manufacturing, and R&D
incentives in the use of branded products since activities
the quality of private labels is on par with the 2. Pool of educated and skilled human
branded products at a relatively lower price. capital
3. Effective enforcement of intellectual
property rights and patent laws
Future growth slows with unit price declines and 4. Liberal legislation for human stem cell
uncertain economy. Growth of OTC healthcare research activity and therapeutic cloning
in Singapore is expected to generally remain 5. Single regulatory agency as Health
slow over the forecast period with a compound Sciences Authority
annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 3 per cent 6. Substantial venture capital and financing
expected in constant value terms. OTC sector, including investment funds
healthcare in Singapore will continue to be dedicated to biomedical sector
highly fragmented with many players; where 7. Attractive fiscal and other investment
none of them will be in a position to dominate. incentives which have included zero
Retail competition for OTC healthcare in corporate income tax for 10-15 years
Singapore is expected to intensify as the major
retail chains continue to have higher bargaining R&D ENVIRONMENT
power over the manufacturers and distributors The increasing interest of multinationals
leading to a drop in unit prices. Additionally, especially in R&D has given Singapore an
upcoming R&D hub status. There are several
factors that have attracted the multinational often been criticized in the past for having paid
pharma majors to Singapore, but the most little attention to innovative R&D in these fields.
important of them are the government's The NITD is a public-private partnership. In
attempts in providing a suitable environment for this case it has been set up between Novartis
investment especially in R&D. The foreign and the Singapore EDB. NITD has set itself the
investments have fuelled the growth of these ambitious target of advancing at least two
sectors recently. The foreign majors that have compounds to clinical trials by 2008 and making
started operations here are Pfizer, Merck, subsequent treatments available to patients by
Aventis, Eli Lilly, Wyeth, Roche, and Schering- 2013. Novartis has committed itself to making
Plough. Among all attempts a major one was these treatments available on a non-profit basis
taken by Novartis in partnership with the to countries where these neglected diseases are
government's Economic Development Board endemic.
(EDB) in opening a research institute that would
focus on tropical diseases. Apart from discovery R&D, a number of
companies are carrying out clinical development
Singapore’s environment for R&D in the in Singapore and using it as a base for
biomedical sciences has been recognized by the overseeing studies being carried out in
international pharmaceutical industry and a neighboring areas. AstraZeneca, Aventis,
number of multinational companies have GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co, Novartis and
established themselves in the country. The Schering-Plough have all followed this
Singapore Economic Development Board approach. In 2003, Bristol-Myers Squibb
(EDB) has encouraged the presence of foreign designated Singapore as a hub for coordinating
companies and provides advice and guidance to and managing its clinical studies in the entire
market entrants. Asia Pacific region and Novo Nordisk is also
using a similar strategy for the clinical
Biopolis development of its new diabetes care products
The much talked about is Biopolis research in the region.
center that was opened in late 2003 by
government. It cost above US$310 million to Eli Lilly recognized the potential of Singapore
build and hold a capacity for 2,000 researchers. for clinical development in 1996 when it set up
It is for providing local companies, start-ups and the Lilly-NUS Center for Clinical Pharmacology,
major companies a vibrant atmosphere for which became operational the following year. It
collaboration and innovation apart from is a joint venture between Eli Lilly, the National
attracting foreign companies to Singapore. The University of Singapore (NUS), and the Agency
EDB is running various funding schemes to for Science, Technology and Research and
encourage researchers to commercialize their represents the company’s only clinical
ideas. pharmacology unit outside the USA with
specialized facilities for conducting clinical trials
Biopolis cost $500 million (local currency – with new pharmaceutical agents. A particular
Singapore dollars) to build. It features local interest of the unit is exploring interesting issues
companies, start-ups and major companies, in human beings.
which would create a vibrant atmosphere for
collaboration and innovation and attract major The government has also nurtured the growth
companies. Singapore is keen to develop local of domestic companies in the sector which
enterprises and the EDB is running various initially benefited from the strong economic and
funding schemes to encourage researchers to regulatory environment and are now benefiting
commercialize their ideas for the market. from the influx of foreign investment.

A high profile investment in Biopolis was the

Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases THERAPEUTIC SEGMENTS
(NITD), which opened in July 2004. Research at Singapore has very high standard of public
the NITD will focus on neglected diseases with health. It is one of the two South-East Asian
initial work being concentrated on dengue fever countries who are recognized by the World
and drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). The center Health Organization as having eradicated
is a welcome step forward into research for malaria, the other country being Brunei
these diseases as the pharmaceutical industry has Darussalam. Due to higher living standards and
better health management incidences of food- mortality from ischaemic heart disease found in
related illnesses, such as cholera and typhoid Singaporean can be explained by lower high
fever, are very less. According to Ministry of density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher rates
Environment and Water Resources of Singapore of diabetes.
in 2003, there was only 1 local case of cholera
and 3 local cases of typhoid. As Singapore is an With higher standards of living more and more
open city and is situated in a region that is life style diseases are expected to be registered.
endemic for various tropical diseases such as Problems like obesity have shown an increasing
dengue fever, malaria and other environment- trend on account of physical inactivity and
related illnesses, it is highly prone to theses excessive diet. According to a survey by The
diseases. Again high traffic through ports Ministry of Health, only 14 per cent of the adult
mutable diseases are expected to increase. population exercised regularly in 1992 and 5 per
Singapore faces the threat posed by Nipah virus cent were obese with Body Mass Index (BMI).
encephalitis and SARS apart from the old The prevalence of hypertension and high total
infectious diseases. cholesterol has increased despite the national
effort to promote a healthy lifestyle. Life style
A very high rate of myopia in children is diseases like cardio and Diabetes have gone up
observed in Singapore. According to The but with the efforts by government in
Ministry of Health’s State of Health Report conducting healthier lifestyle programs have
2001 myopia is the leading eye disease in controlled the rate up to a certain extent.
Singapore and among the highest in the World.
As such HIV, Oncology, Tuberculosis, CVS are Government has taken initiatives for a healthier
considered to be major therapeutic segments in Singapore where there are attempts taken to
Singapore. There is an increase in number of spread awareness for better and healthier life
HIV infected. An epidemiological transition in style and preventive measures for certain
Singapore from infectious to chronic, non- diseases. Among the attempts by government
communicable diseases is observed on account Singapore signed the World Health
of rapid socio economic development. No Organization (WHO) Framework Convention
communicable diseases are emerging particularly on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on December 29,
with changing conditions with rapid 2003. The Ministry of the Environment in
industrialization in Singapore Singapore operates a well established program
of epidemiological surveillance to monitor
Today cancers and cardiovascular diseases are continuously any outbreaks of infectious disease.
accounting for more than 60 per cent of all
deaths where as in 1950s and 1960s an
HEALTHCARE SERVICES MARKET
infectious disease like tuberculosis and
gastroenteritis were the major causes of death in Among these sectors healthcare is very
Singapore. In 2000, cancer accounts for 27 per advanced in Singapore which is comparable to
cent of total death compared to 20 per cent in that of other industrialized nations. According
eighties and 7 per cent in 1960s. (Cancer is the to the World Health Organization (WHO),
main cause of death, accounting for 26% of all Singapore is ranked among top ten countries
deaths in 2003. Heart diseases, pneumonia and based on the overall health survey of countries.
cerebrovascular diseases are also common Japan and Singapore are only two Asian
problems.) Pneumonia used to be highest death countries comparable to the healthcare systems
cause with 9 per cent in 1960s but now has been and facilities of most developed countries.
superceded by cancer (27%) and Ischaemic and Singapore's medical savings plan, subsidies for
other heart diseases (25%). Among all the low-income patients and greater autonomy in
cancers breast cancer is the leading cause of the management of public hospitals contribute
cancer deaths among Singapore women. Study for this. State owned hospitals account for 70
says Singapore women are not well-informed per cent of the total number of hospital beds in
about the disease. Singapore.

In 2000, Singapore registered a death rate of 76 Singapore is renowned for its role as the
per 100,000 from cardiovascular problem whilst healthcare hub for the region, attracting patients
the average death rate of other developed from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and
countries was 58 per 100,000. The higher the Philippines. Singapore is able to provide a
very high level of medical services at a relatively greater than that of hospitals in the private
low cost compared to other developed sector. The number of doctors per 1,000 people
countries. The new statutory board set up, under was an estimated 1.6 in 2003.
the Health Ministry from 2001, called The
Health Promotion Board (HPB). It provides Woodbridge Hospital is the largest hospital in
framework for greater focus on major health the public sector, with a capacity of 2,425 beds
problems and spearhead health education, in 2003. Singapore General Hospital is the
promotion and preventive programs. The second largest public hospital, with a capacity of
Singapore healthcare service division targets 1 1,394 beds. Other hospitals include the
million foreign patients annually and US$2.6 Kandang Kerbau Hospital, which specializes in
billion of value-add and 1 per cent of GDP caring for women and infants.
contribution by 2012. (*Refer Health care Hospitals in the Private Sector
Statistics in Annexure; Page 24) Hospital No. of Beds
Mt Elizabeth Hospital 505
That Singapore has one of the most mature Gleneagles Hospital 328
healthcare industries in South-east Asia is Ren Ci Hospital 303
evident from its efficient and well-developed St. Luke’s Hospital for the 224
infrastructure, a highly educated population and Elderly
local technological expertise. Healthcare Total 2242
standards are high in the country. The life Source: Hospital websites Ministry of Health.
expectancy at birth was an estimated 81.4 years
in 2003, compared with 81.3 years in 2002. For The private sector accounts for nearly 80 per
males, it was an estimated 78.9 years in 2003, cent of all primary healthcare services, with
and 84.2 years for females. The rate of infant government primary health clinics accounting
mortality stood at an estimated 3.4 per 1,000 live for the remaining share. The government
births in 2003 from 3.5 per 1,000 live births in subsidizes 50 per cent of the treatment cost at
2001. public-sector clinics. Mt Elizabeth Hospital is
the largest hospital in the private sector,
Total expenditure on healthcare as a percentage accounting for 23.1 per cent of the total capacity
of GDP was an estimated 3.9 per cent in 2003. of private-sector hospitals in 2000 (latest
Singapore ranked 25th in UN Development available figures). Gleneagles is the second-
Programme’s Human Development Index in largest private-sector hospital, accounting for 15
2002. This is well above Malaysia and Indonesia, per cent of the capacity of private-sector
which ranked 59th and 111th, respectively. hospitals in that year.
According to the Ministry of Health,
government expenditure on healthcare per head Expensive medical treatments, including non-
was an estimated S$584 (US$346) in 2003, essential cosmetic treatments, are not available
which is high when compared with other Asian in public hospitals. The Ministry of Health
countries (excluding Japan). determines the charges for any kind of medical
treatment. The government introduced the
Hospitals in the Public Sector Casemix system of funding in public hospitals in
Hospital No. of Beds 2000, under which funds are distributed
Woodbridge Hospital 2425 according to the difficulty and type of medical
National University 957 condition treated, and the frequency of
Hospital occurrence of medical condition.
Singapore General Hospital 1394 There was a total of 3.57 lakh hospital
Total inclusive of others 8831 admissions in 2003, of which 2.71 lakh were in
Source: Hospital websites Ministry of Health. the public sector, according to the Ministry of
Health. Cancer is the main cause of death,
The health sector comprised 29 hospitals in accounting for 26 per cent of all deaths in 2003.
2003, with 13 in the public sector and 16 in the Heart diseases, pneumonia and cerebrovascular
private sector, according to the Ministry of diseases are also common problems.
Health. Total capacity of these hospitals in 2003
was 11,855 beds. The public sector is more Medical Insurance Schemes: The
important than the data suggest—although there government’s three main insurance schemes are
are fewer public hospitals, their average size is Medisave, Medishield and Medifund. These
ensure that patients are able to bear part of the Multi-National companies
cost of treatment. The three government
schemes have 2 mn members, whereas the 1. Schering – Plough
Private Medical Insurance Scheme, which allows 2. Glaxo Smith Kline
private insurers to offer medical insurance to 3. Sanofi -Aventis
Central Provident Fund members and is similar 4. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
to that offered under MediShield, has around 5 5. Merck
lakh members. 6. Pfizer
7. Baxter Healthcare
The spread of the SARS virus in 2003 was 8. Roche
effectively dealt with by the healthcare system. reduce the country’s reliance on electronics
In March and April 2003 about 200 people were products as the main source of growth for
infected by SARS in Singapore, of which 23 exports and manufacturing. The success of this
died. In response to the SARS outbreak, the strategy has been evident since 2001 as headline
government quickly introduced strict quarantine manufacturing and export figures have been
regulations and close monitoring of international boosted by exports of pharmaceutical products.
travelers at Singapore’s border points. The Output has, however, been volatile, reflecting
system that was put in place will, it is hoped, the fact that domestic production is driven by
contain the virus should it reappear. large one-off orders overseas and as plants sit
idle during maintenance or when the product
Distributors: Leading distributors of mix is changed (rather than a continuous or
pharmaceutical products include two local smooth demand cycle, which is more common
companies, Apotheca Marketing and Inchcape in the electronics industry).
Healthcare. Apotheca is a distributor of finished
pharmaceutical products, both generic as well as The government aims to have at least ten
branded pharmaceutical raw materials and foreign pharmaceutical companies with
medical equipment. Besides Singapore, it has investments in manufacturing facilities in the
offices in China, Malaysia and Papua New country by 2010. To encourage inward
Guinea. It also has associates in Vietnam, investment in the industry, the government has
Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and developed lucrative tax breaks, grants and strong
Thailand. Inchcape Healthcare distributes administrative support. The government also
pharmaceutical products and medical equipment launched the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-
in the Asia region. operation (APEC) Co-ordinating Centre for
Good Clinical Practice in April 1996, which was
Medical devices market is another segment given the task of constructing a common
which moves in tandem with the increasing framework for assessing medicines sold
healthcare services and promotion of research. throughout South-east Asia.
In 2000, Singapore's total market size for
medical devices was estimated to be US$297 A number of foreign companies have a presence
million. The new regulation for medical devices in the industry. These include three US-based
has given an impetus to this sector. companies, Schering-Plough, Merck Sharp &
Dohme and Pfizer, as well as Aventis of France
(N.B: #Major Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & and GlaxoSmithKline of the UK. The local
Wholesalers list is in Annexure; Page: 25) manufacturing facilities of such foreign
companies reflect the government’s attempts to
MAJOR PLAYERS build an export-based pharmaceutical products
industry. The prominent role this industry has
There were around 20 domestic manufacturers
played in supporting manufacturing and exports
of pharmaceutical products in 2003. Singapore is
over the last few years suggests that the
increasingly becoming a base for foreign
government’s efforts have so far been fruitful.
companies that are setting up production
plants—six of the world’s biggest
Drug Houses of Australia is one of the key
pharmaceutical firms have large operations in
domestic manufacturers of pharmaceutical
the country. The development of the
products. It is a subsidiary of Haw Par Brothers
pharmaceutical industry has been encouraged by
Healthcare Limited, a Singapore-based
the government in recent years in order to
diversified conglomerate. The company
produces generic drugs and supplies to the Kong and the Philippines. It exported almost 40
domestic market as well as Malaysia, Hong per cent of its pharmaceutical products in 2003.

Pharmaceutical Companies
S.No Pharmaceutical Products S.No Pharmaceutical Products
1 Capmar Machinery Pte Ltd 81 Lundbeck Export A/S
Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private
2 Limited 82 MDS Pharma Services Central Lab Pte Ltd
3 Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry Pte Ltd 83 Medi Link Pte Ltd
4 Albemarle Asia Pacific Co 84 Medimex Singapore Pte Ltd
5 Alpha Therapeutic Asia Pte Ltd 85 MediPearl Pte Ltd
6 Americhlor Technologies 86 MediPharm Pte Ltd
7 Apotheca Marketing Pte Ltd 87 Memiontec Pte Ltd
8 Asiagate Holdings Pte Ltd 88 Merck Sharp & Dohme (I A) Corp.
9 Asian International 89 Merck Sharp & Dohme (Singapore) Ltd.
Merck Sharp & Dohme Asia Pacific
10 AstraZeneca Singapore Pte Ltd 90 Services Pte Ltd
Aventis Pharma International SA
11 Representative Office 91 MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd.
12 Aventis Pharma Manufacturing Pte Ltd 92 Ming Chemical Pte Ltd
13 Aventis Pharma Pte Ltd 93 Nagase Singapore (Pte) Ltd.
14 Beacons Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd. 94 Nardev Chemie Pte Ltd
15 Biomed Pte Ltd 95 Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Novartis Institute For Tropical Diseases
16 Boehringer Ingelheim International 96 Pte Ltd
17 Borregaard S.E.A. Pte Ltd 97 Novartis Nutrition Singapore Pte Ltd
18 Bright Chemicals (Singapore) Pte Ltd 98 Novo Nordisk (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd
19 Bright Evergreen Pte Ltd 99 Novo Nordisk Pharma (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte.
20 Ltd. 100 Okeanos Trading Co
21 Chemapol Asia Pte Ltd 101 Orient Europharma Pte Ltd
22 Chemical Industries (Far East) Limited 102 Paradigm Therapeutics Singapore Pte Ltd
23 Chemigran Industrial (S) Pte Ltd 103 Peer Chemical & Metallurgy Pte Ltd
24 CK Witco Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 104 Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
25 Colorcon Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 105 Pfizer Private Limited
26 Commercial Supplies (Far East) Pte Ltd 106 Pharmacia Inter-American Corporation
Connell Brothers Co (Singapore) Pte
27 Ltd 107 Pharmacia Singapore Pte Ltd
28 Croda Singapore Pte Ltd 108 Pharmaforte Singapore Pte Ltd
29 Cutter-Teng Consultancy Pte Ltd 109 Pharmatic Trading
30 DAC Pharmalab Pte Ltd 110 Pierre Fabre Medicament
31 Dade Behring Asia Pte Ltd 111 Polymedic Trading Enterprise Pte Ltd
32 Derek Marketing Pte Ltd 112 Premier Petmchemic
Diethelm Keller Property & Investment
33 Pte. Ltd. 113 Prime Products Pte Ltd
Drug Houses Of Australia (Asia) Pte
34 Ltd 114 Protek Chemicals & Engineering Pte Ltd
35 Du Pont Company (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 115 Reckitt Benckiser (Singapore) Pte Ltd
36 DuPont Dow Elastomers Pte Limited 116 Redox Chemical Pte Ltd
37 Easy Screen Pte Ltd 117 Retimos Systems Pte Ltd
Ecogreen Oleochemicals (Singapore)
38 Pte Ltd 118 Rimir Enterprise
39 Eli Lilly (Singapore) Pte Ltd 119 RMC Ueberseehandel (S) Pte Ltd
 Pharmaceutical Companies
S.No Pharmaceutical Products S.No Pharmaceutical Products
40 Eli Lily Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 120 S.C. Johnson & Son Private Limited
41 Emerging Pharma (S) Pte Ltd 121 S.G.S. Singapore (Pte) Ltd
42 Excelsia Pharma-Tech Pte Ltd 122 Satim Pharmacare Pte Ltd
43 Faulding Pharmaceuticals (SEA) Pte Ltd 123 Schering-Plough Ltd
44 Fournier Pharma 124 Schweizerhall Pte Ltd
45 FP Marketing (S) Pte Ltd 125 Seaward Chemicals Pte Ltd
46 Fresenius Pharma Asia Pacific 126 Sematec Pte Ltd
47 FRP Services Asia Pte Ltd 127 Servier (S) Pte Ltd
48 G-Chem Singapore Pte Ltd 128 Shell Singapore Chemicals (Pte) Ltd
Genencor International Asia Pacific Pte
49 Ltd 129 Sineximco Pte Ltd
50 Glaxo Far East Pte Ltd 130 Sino Chemical Company (Pte) Limited
51 Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing Pte Ltd 131 Smith Kline & French Overseas Co
52 GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd 132 SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals
53 Glosel Singapore Pte Ltd 133 Star Asia Far East (Singapore) Pte Ltd
54 Grafton Pharmasia Pte Ltd 134 Steril Medical Supplies Pte Ltd
55 Great Pacific Import Export 135 Summit Chemicals Asia Pte Ltd
Summit Company (Singapore) Private
56 Grifols International S.A. 136 Limited
57 Hawk Petroleum Pte Ltd 137 Sunward Pharmaceutical Private Limited
Hyphens Marketing & Technical Tai Thong Hung Industrial Chemicals
58 Services Pte Ltd 138 Private Limited
59 Inabata Singapore (Pte.) Ltd. 139 Teva Pharmaceutical Pte Ltd
The Sandpipers (Sales & Marketing)
60 Innovative Biotech Pte Ltd 140 Singapore
Integrated Contract Manufacturing Pte.
61 Ltd. 141 Thiam Joo Private Limited
62 Inventa Technologies (S) Pte Ltd 142 Three Rifles Medical (S) Manufactory
63 ISP (S) Pte Ltd 143 UCB Singapore Pte Ltd
64 ISP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 144 Uni Drug House
Union Chemical & Pharmaceutical (Pte)
65 Jacobs Engineering Singapore Pte Ltd 145 Ltd
66 JDH Pharmaceutical Division 146 Value Healthcare Pte Ltd
67 Jelen Supplies & Services 147 Vanda Pharmaceuticals
68 Johnson & Johnson Pte Ltd 148 Victory Chemical Pte Ltd
69 Jungbunzlauer Singapore Pte Ltd 149 Viro Chemicals
Wah Joo Seng International Trading Pte
70 K C Pte Ltd 150 Ltd
West Pharmaceutical Services Singapore
71 Kaneka Singapore Co (Pte) Ltd 151 Pte. Ltd.
72 Kanto Kagaku Singapore Pte Ltd 152 Win-Kon (Singapore) Pte Ltd
73 Kao (Southeast Asia) Pte Ltd 153 Wyeth (Singapore) Pte. Limited
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (Singapore) Pte.
74 Kareliech Pte Ltd 154 Ltd.
75 Kaybee Exim Pte Ltd 155 Yeap Medical Supplies Pte. Ltd.
76 Kemimac (S) Pte Ltd 156 Yukin Pte Ltd
Yung Shin Pharmaceutical (Singapopre) Pte
77 Kirsch Pharma Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 157 Ltd
78 Kvaerner E&C Singapore Pte Ltd 158 Zeneca Pharma (S) Pte Ltd
79 Loyal Maintenance Services 159 Zuellig Pharma Pte. Ltd.
80 Luen Wah Medical Co (S) Pte Ltd 160 Zyfas Medical Co
 Companies of Pharmaceutical Intermediates REGULATIONS
S.No Pharmaceutical Intermediates
In the 1960s, the Singapore pharmaceutical
1 Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited market had only few generic manufacturers and
2 Assiagate Holdings Pte Ltd the regulations were not in existence. In fact
3 Boehringer Ingelheim International with the development of the industry different
4 Bright Evergreen Pte Ltd steps are taken by the authorities in developing
5 Great Pacific Import Export regulations. Later with the entry of Multinational
6 Grifols International S.A. pharma majors into the country, the regulations
have been raised to international levels. In 1973,
7 Hawk Petroleum Pte Ltd
Beecham pharmaceuticals, a UK based company
8 Kareliech Pte Ltd was the first MNC to set up a bulk drug
9 Kemimac (S) Pte Ltd manufacturing plant.
10 MediPharm Pte Ltd
11 Orient Europharma Pte Ltd In 1986, the licensing of pharmaceutical
12 Pharmaforte Singapore Pte Ltd manufacturers and the registration of
13 Satim Pharmacare Pte Ltd pharmaceutical products came in picture under
14 Schering-Plough Ltd the framework of the Medicines Act. Even in
the process of adhering to the international
15 Summit Company (Singapore) Private Limited
standards and practices a GMP unit was
established with in Ministry of Health (MOH) in
1997. Followed by this, in 1999 the licensing of
EXPORTS & IMPORTS Chinese Proprietary Medicines (CPM) also
Domestic exports of chemicals, including began. Later in 2001, the Health Science
pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals, increased Authority (HSA) was established as a statutory
by an impressive 77 per cent YoY in nominal board to MOH. The scope of body is very wide
terms between 2002 and 2003; between 2001 with 8 professional centers under it. The
professional centers are
Exports & Imports of Pharmaceuticals
1400 1. CPA (Center for Pharmaceuticals
1200 Administration)
2. CAS (Center for Analytical Science)
1000
3. CDE (Center for Drug Evaluations)
800 4. CFM (Center for Forensic Medicines)
600 5. CFS (Center for Forensic Science)
400 6. CMDR (Center for Medical Devices
200 Regulations)
0 7. CRP (Center for Radiation Protections)
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
8. CTM (Center for Transfusion Medicines)

Imports(US $Mn) Exports (US$Mn) CPA administers the regulation of drugs and
health related products. It has four arms namely,
Source: www.intracen.org (a) Manufacturing and Quality Audit
(b) Product Evaluation and Registration
and 2002, domestic exports of chemicals rose 27 (c) Compliance and Complementary Medicines
per cent. The pharmaceuticals exports, as (d) Pharmacovigilance, communications and
shown in the adjacent chart, are captured from Research Division
international trade center with the classifications (a) Manufacturing and Quality Audit, has got
of Pharmaceutical excluding Medicaments (542) three units. The GMP unit ensures the GMP
and Medicaments including Veterinary (541). practices by audit, licensing of manufacturers
products. The GDP unit audits and does the
In 2003 the domestic imports has increased licensing of importers, wholesale dealers and
marginally by US$10 million while the exports is retail and hospital pharmacies. Its Certification
almost constant at US$1,213 million in the same unit processes and grants certificates of product,
period. export certificates and GMP certificates.
 of motor vehicles, liquor, petrol and cigarettes.
The GMP inspection system of Singapore Import and export could be done freely for
follows international practice of Pharmaceutical most of the items provided you have the
Inspections Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S). The permits from Customs and or Singapore Trade
system has followed the PIC/s guide for development Board. The GST is a multi-stage
finished medical products as its GMP standards. tax and is collected at every stage of the
For API it has followed the guide for PIC/s production and distribution chain. The rate is
guide GMP guide for API as standard. charged at 3.0 per cent.

For items like pharmaceuticals that are under

PHARMACEUTICAL LICENSING
import or export control, one needs to obtain
According to the Medicines Act, a endorsement or license to import or export.
manufacturer’s license is a must for any body to
manufacture or assemble any registered
medicinal product. Again for the grant of HEALTH ITEMS REGULATIONS
manufacturer’s license following documents
Vitamins with very high dosages of certain
should be submitted by the applicant.
nutrients must be licensed or registered.
However, most over-the-counter vitamins and
¾ Proposed manufacturing operations
food supplements need not be licensed.
¾ Details of the premises
¾ Equipment details There is also labeling and advertising legislation
¾ Qualifications of the key personnel which applies to the sale of vitamins and
¾ Maintenance of written procedures and supplements. Labeling laws require that:
records
1) The composition of the products be disclosed
Apart from that the holder of a manufacturer’s in English
license must comply with specified provisions 2) Labels/packaging materials must not contain
including PIC/S guide for GMP. any reference to diseases/conditions as specified
in the schedule to the Medicines (Advertisement
HSA has gone step by step in internalizing the & Sale) Act; and
global practices in Singapore pharmaceuticals 3) The advertising/sales promotion of the
manufacturing standards in particular the product in the public media be approved by
generic manufacturing and supply. It is also the Centre for Pharmaceutical Administration of
looking at other product categories to bring in the Health Sciences Authority, Ministry of
the international practices in these areas. Health.
With the maturing industry many complexities The Regulations which govern the sale of
are coming in, and HSA is committed to vitamins and food supplements in Singapore
provide comprehensive regulatory services. include:

IMPORT & EXPORT • The Medicines Act 1975

Singapore is virtually a free port with short • The Medicines (Advertisement & Sales) Act
tariff. The major items that attract duty are • The Medicines (Medical Advertisements)
petroleum products, liquors, tobacco and Regulations 1977
motors. Where goods are dutiable, ad valorem • The Sale of Drugs Act and Regulations The
or specific rates or a combination of the two Medicines (Labeling) Regulations 1986, and
valuation methods may be applied. In Singapore, • The Medicines (Non-medicinal Products)
valuation for customs purposes is based on the Order 1988
Brussels Definition of Value (BDV). The basic • The Poisons Act
principle of the BDV is that dutiable value is the • Misuse of Drugs Regulations
normal price or import price of goods at the • Sale of Food Act and Regulations
port or place of importation.
The sale of Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid) and
More than 99 per cent of all imports into
Vitamin B17 (Amygdalin) is prohibited under
Singapore enter the country duty-free. The only
exceptions are heavy tariffs/taxes on the import
the Sale of Drugs (Prohibited Drugs) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
Regulations 1985. Singapore adheres to IPR regime which came
into effect on February 23, 1995. It met the
PHARMACEUTICALS IMPORTS international compliances with WTO’s TRIPS
REGULATIONS terms before one year of the deadline on 2000.
Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs The norms are on par with the internationals
must be registered and approved by the Centre IPR regime. Patent is highly respected and the
for Pharmaceutical Administration, Health term of patent is 20 years from the filing date.
Sciences Authority (Ministry of Health). The The authority regulating IPR in Singapore is
Center’s Product Evaluation & Registration Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. The
Division (PERD) is responsible for the Health Science Authority of Singapore provides
registration and licensing of Western medicines, a comprehensive regulatory framework for the
and controls the import of medicinal products evaluation and marketing approval for all
into Singapore through the therapeutic products.
administration of Tradenet.
Clinical trails
Labeling Requirements
With adoption of IPR agreement Singapore has
Labels are required on imported food, drugs,
moved further in clinical trails also in line with
liquors, paints and solvents and must specify the
the international norms. The Clinical Trials and
country of origin. Repackaged foods must be
Epidemiology Research Unit (CTERU) of
labeled to show (in English) the appropriate
Singapore is a pivotal research organization that
designation of the food content printed in
works closely with Singapore’s Ministry of
capital letters at least 1/16 inch high; whether
Health and clinical groups in Singapore and the
foods are compounded, mixed or blended; the
Southeast Asian region to encourage
minimum quantity stated in metric net weight or
pharmaceutical collaborations and support the
measure; the name and address of the
planning, launch and administration of multi-
manufacturer or seller; and the country of
center studies meeting Good Clinical Practices
origin.
(GCP).
A description (in English) of the contents of the
package may be added to the face of the label, Medical devices
providing the additional language is not contrary In Singapore, very few medical devices are
to, or a modification of, any statement on the subject to mandatory product registration.
label. Pictorial illustrations must not mislead Among those products that do require
about the true nature or origin of the food. registration are radiation-emitting equipment,
Foods having defined standards must be labeled contact lenses and contact lens care products,
to conform to those standards and be free from HIV test kits, and condoms. For those devices
added foreign substances. that are not subject to registration, generally all
that is required is evidence of approval in the
Special labels are required for certain foods, United States, Europe, or Japan – for example, a
medicines and goods such as edible and non- “Certificate to Foreign Government” from the
edible animal fats as well as paints and solvents. U.S. FDA or a Certificate of Free Sale.
Processed foods and pharmaceuticals must be
inspected and approved by the Ministry of The Center for Medical Device Regulation
Environment's Food Control Department and (CMDR) is a the regulatory center established
the Health Sciences Authority. Electrical goods under HAS to spearhead the administration and
must be checked by Singapore Power before development for the regulatory control of
they can be installed, while paints and solvents medical devices in Singapore. The Center also
are the responsibility of the Chief Inspector of administers the Contact Lens Practitioners Act
Factories, Ministry of Manpower. through the registration and licensing of contact
lens practitioners and the enforcement of the
Prohibited Imports Act and regulations. The medical device
Singapore prohibits the import of chewing gum, regulation, control measures and procedures are
firecrackers, silencers and other items. implemented in early 2003. CMDR has
introduced the voluntary product registration
scheme for higher-risk medical devices. It will Number enables you to submit Import,
serve as an interim measure while transiting to Export and Transhipment Permit
the regulated environment. applications through TradeNet. CR Number
is processed free of charge.
HEALTHCARE FINANCING
Permit Requirement
Singapore has a hybrid healthcare financing
framework which is driven by two key
Imports
principles: individual responsibility and
For imports of all goods (including controlled
community and government support for those
and non-controlled items) into Singapore,
in need. The health care financing framework
• Obtain an Import Permit through TradeNet
upholds the principle that individuals must first
look at themselves and their immediate family before goods are imported into Singapore
members for the financial resources to pay for • Subject to the payment of Goods and
the healthcare services Services Tax (GST) which is levied at 5 per
they consume. Government subsidies and cent of the CIF (cost, insurance and freight)
community support help keep basic healthcare value at the time of importation.
affordable even to those with insufficient means. Import of High-Technology Products
To help Singaporeans pay for hospitalization • Certain high-technology products are
expenses, the government introduced the subject to export control by the exporting
following healthcare financing plans: country. In this case, the exporter in the
exporting country may ask the Singapore
1. Medisave: a compulsory savings plan to help importer for an Import Certificate and
individuals save and pay for their healthcare Delivery Verification (ICDV) from
expenditure. Singapore.
• The Singapore Customs will issue the ICDV
2. MediShield: a catastrophic insurance plan if application is in order. The purpose of the
(premiums paid for through Medisave) to help ICDV is to ensure that the items are in fact
meet the cost of large medical bills. imported into Singapore and are not
diverted or re-export to a proscribed
destination.
3. Medifund: a health endowment fund which
provides a safety net for the poor and needy.
Exports
For exports of goods out of Singapore:
4. Severe Disability Insurance Scheme: an
• Obtain an Export Permit through TradeNet
insurance plan (premiums paid for through
Medisave) for disabled elderly people cared for within 3 days of export if goods are non-
at home using community-based services or controlled and are exported by sea or air.
home-care services. Medisave is used for • Obtain an Export Permit through TradeNet
hospitalization expenses including surgery fees before goods are exported out of Singapore
and out-patient expenses listed under an if goods are controlled or are exported by
"approved list" as well as for hospice care, day road and rail.
and convalescent hospitals. Standard out-patient
expenses and expenses for cosmetic surgery are
not payable under Medisave. Products Requiring Export
Approvals
IMPORT AND EXPORT PROCEDURES Some products are subject to quota restriction
or special documentation requirement. Details
Trader Registration are explained below:
To engage in import, export and transhipment Textiles &Textile Products
activities in Singapore: Before exporting textiles and textile products
• First register with the Accounting & including samples, gifts and souvenir items
Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). made from textiles to Canada, EU and the USA,
• Upon successful registration with ACRA, check with the Documentation Specialists
apply to Singapore Customs for a Central Branch of Singapore Customs whether the
Registration (CR) Number. This CR product is under quota restriction. If it is, ensure
that the registered manufacturer has the required of such passengers, crew or employees of
quotas before applying for the relevant transport undertakings; and
Certificate or document for the consignment. ii. Being imported, exported or transhipped by
parcel post and such importation, exportation
For exports of textiles and textile products of and transhipment is not prohibited under
Singapore origin subject to quota restrictions in regulation 6 of the Regulation of Imports and
the EU, one needs to obtain the Export Exports Regulations;
License and the CO for the importers in those iii. Diplomatic correspondence;
markets. For textiles and textile products of iv. Being imported, exported or transshipped by:
Singapore origin exported to the US, a Textile a. the joint defense force, including the
Visa is required by the US Customs Service for Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore
each consignment except for ramie, silk and Police Force and the Singapore Joint Civil
linen products. Defense Force, including personal and
household effects of its officers but
Aquarium Fish & Fresh-Cut Orchids excluding civilian motor vehicles; or
Germany requires an Export Certificate for b. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including
every consignment of cut flowers imported into personal and household effects of its
the country. officers but excluding motor vehicles

Singapore Customs (Aircargo) processes v. Used motor vehicles covered by Carnet de

Certificates of Origin for the export of aquarium Passage which are endorsed by the Automobile
fish and fresh-cut orchids. Association of Singapore
Transhipment
vi. Trade samples, specimens for analysis or test,
For all transhipment of goods from one Free and gifts, the value of which does not exceed
Trade Zone to another and for transhipment of S$400.00 in total value, including the following
controlled items within the same Free Trade controlled items:
Zone,
• Obtain a Transhipment Permit through 1. Food items including tableware and
TradeNet before goods are imported into kitchenware made of porcelain or china
Singapore controlled by the Food Control Division.
Using TradeNet 2. Fish and fishery products (excluding species
To apply for a TradeNet Permit, one may either: controlled under CITES); fruits and
• Subscribe as a TradeNet User to submit vegetables (excluding those from the
permit applications for processing and American Tropics); and flowers (excluding
approval. Please contact the TradeNet species controlled under CITES and those
System Administrator, CrimsonLogic at Tel from the American Tropics) controlled by
No. (65) 6887 7888 for more information; Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA);
or 3. Rice of all descriptions controlled by the IE
• Appoint an agent, freight forwarder or Singapore
TradeNet Service Centre to submit the
permit applications on one’s behalf. vii. Commercial, shipping or airline documents,
press photographs or negatives, news write-ups,
news clippings, news films or news transcription
Permit Exemption tapes
1. The requirement for permits shall not apply if
such goods are not controlled imports, viii. Human corpses, human remains, human
controlled exports or controlled transhipments bones or cremated ashes; or
and are:
i. Personal or household effects, other than ix. Human transplant materials.
motor vehicles, which:
a. accompany passengers, crew or employees 2. The requirement of a permit to export any
of transport undertakings by land, sea or air; goods shall not apply if such goods:
b. are not being transported for sale but are i. are not controlled exports
intended for the personal or household use ii. Have a total value which does not exceed
US$400 and
iii. Are being exported unaccompanied by air by Import
a tourist. • Import permits are not required for goods
imported under ATA Carnet. However,
3. The requirement of a permit to transship any where some or all of the goods are not re-
goods shall not apply if such goods: exported, you must obtain the necessary
i. Are not controlled import, controlled exports import permit(s) for the goods.
or controlled transshipments; and • If the goods to be imported are under
ii. Are not transshipped from one free trade import control, you must obtain the
zone to another. endorsement/approval from the relevant
controlling agency before the arrival of the
controlled goods in Singapore.
Third Country Trading through • One must present the ATA Carnet
Singapore (endorsed by Customs) to the carrier's agent
A Singapore company may arrange for the to effect shipment of the goods. The B/L
shipment of their goods from a second country or AWB number should be indicated on the
to a third country. If it is shown as the shipper top right hand corner of the ATA Carnet.
in both the incoming and outgoing bills of The carrier's agent will:
lading/air waybills/manifests, and • Retain a copy of the ATA Carnet
• Indicate in the manifest, the ATA Carnet
Where the goods are not discharged in No. against the item which was exported
Singapore under the ATA Carnet.
• No import and export permits are required.
Export
Where the goods are discharged in Singapore In Singapore, ATA Carnets are issued only by
• No import and export permits are required the Singapore International Chamber of
Commerce (SICC). One should apply to the
• The carrier's agents must indicate against
SICC for an ATA Carnet for goods temporarily
the consignment in the inward and outward
exported from Singapore.
manifests the following remarks:

Temporary Import/Export under ATA

Carnet
 * Healthcare Statistics
1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a) 2001(a) 2002(b) 2003(b)
Life expectancy, 79.2 79.9 80.4 81.2 81.3(a) 81.4
average (years)
Life expectancy, male 76.5 77.2 77.7 78.7 78.8(a) 78.9
(years)
Life expectancy, female 82.1 82.8 83.3 84.0 84.1(a) 84.2
(years)
Infant Mortality 4.0 3.5 3.5(b) 3.5(b) 3.4 3.4
(per 1,000 live births)
Healthcare spending 6 6 6 6 6 6
(S$ bn)

Healthcare 4.1 4.0 3.6 3.9 3.6 3.9

spending(%of GDP)
Healthcare 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.2 3.5
spending(US$ bn)
Healthcare 902 851 826 816 763 839
spending(US$ per
head)
Physicians(per 1,000 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6(a) 1.6
population)
Pharmaceutical sales 193 179 202 225 220 228
(US$ m)
Sources: US Census Bureau; Economist Intelligence Unit. a – actual; b- estimate
 # Major Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Wholesalers
Telephone
S.No Company's Name Address Fax No.
No.
Abbott Laboratories (S) Pte
1 Ltd 1 Maritime Sq #11-12 (65) 2786220 (65) 2786793
2 Alcon Pte Ltd 159 Sin Ming Rd #06-05 (65) 5527786 (65) 5530816
Beechan Pharmaceuticals
3 Pte Ltd 38 Quality Rd (65) 2653711 (65) 2684947
4 Boots Co (F E) Pte Ltd The 1123 Serangoon Rd #02-02 (65) 2994122 (65) 2981562
5 Centeon Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd 9 Temasek Blvd #07-04 (65) 3386369 (65) 3382773
6 Cyanamid (S) Pte Ltd 22 Martin Rd #02-01 (65) 7348550 (65) 7348731
7 DAC Pharmalab Pte Ltd 136 Joo Seng Rd #02-00 (65) 8586866 (65) 2864823
8 Easy Screen Pte Ltd 196 Pandan Loop #06-13 (65) 7778269 (65) 7778279
1 Marine Parade Central
9 Eltean Agencies Pte Ltd #08-06 (65) 3459423 (65) 3450842
10 Far East Drug Co Pte Ltd #08-01 Peace Centre (65) 3378349 (65) 3378641
Fresenius Pharma Asia
11 Pacific 12A Sago St (65) 3240717 (65) 3240718
G C Pharmaceutical (S) Pte
12 Ltd 1 Maritime Sq #10-33A (65) 2731033 (65) 2734723
Glaxo Wellcome S'pore Pte
13 Ltd #21-00 Gateway West (65) 2916070 (65) 2919737
Hoechst Marion Roussel
14 South Asia Pte Ltd 200 Cantonment Rd # 02-02 (65) 2272275 (65) 2271585
15 Indrugco Pte Ltd 221 Henderson Rd #07-20 (65) 2756789 (65) 2756788
Kyowa Hakko Industry (S)
16 Pte Ltd 300 Orchard Rd #06-02 (65) 7334948 (65) 7330819
17 Laboratories Fournier S A 360 Orchard Rd #09-03 (65) 7380244 (65) 7337870
#10-05/06 Alexandra
18 Medic Marketing Pte Ltd Distripark- Blk 1 (65) 2718122 (65) 2719967
Quantanoba Asia Pacific Pte
19 Ltd 15 Scotts Rd #05-06 (65) 7357335 (65) 7347077
Reddy Pharmaceuticals (S)
20 Pte Ltd 400 Orchard Rd #11-11 (65) 7342010 (65) 7340376
21 Scigen Pte Ltd 14 Science Pk Dr #04-01A (65) 7796638 (65) 7793784
22 UCB (S) Pte Ltd 30 Prinsep St #03-02 (65) 3362880 (65) 3371029
66 Tannery Lane (65)741-5400
#01-05A (10 lines) /
Sindo Building 841 3606 (065)841-
23 Grafton Pharmasia Singapore 347805 7526
Hyphens Marketing and
Technical Services Pte Ltd 117 Jalan Sultan, Singapore (65) 6338-
199007 8551 Fax: +65
24 6338-8825
 Industry Associations
Singapore Association Of 151 Chin Swee Road, #02-13a/14 Manhattan House,
Pharmaceutical Industries Singapore 169876, Tel : 6738 0966 Fax: 6738 0977 ,
E-Mail: Foktaihung@Sapi.Org.Sg
Healthcare Industry, Governmental 2 College Road, Level 2, Alumni Medical Center
And Related Organisations In Singapore 169850, Tel: +65 2231264
Singapore Fax: +65 2247827, Email: Sma_Org@Pacific.Net.Sg
Singapore Medical Association Url: Www.Sma.Org.Sg
Singapore Manufacturers' Federation The Enterprise #02-02
No 1 Science Centre Road Singapore 609077
Telephone : 6826 3000 Fax : 6822 8828
E-Mail : Hq@Smafederation.Org.Sg
Singapore Business Federation (Sbf) C/O. Singapore National Employers Federation
19 Tanglin Road # 10-01/07, Tanglin Shopping Centre,
Singapore 247909
Tel: 65-62358911, Fax: 65-62353904
Email: Sfcci@Singnet.Com.Sg
Health Supplements Industry Address: 18 Cross Street, #12-01/08
Association (Singapore) China Square Central, Singapore 048423
Tel: +65-6212 0100, Fax: +65-6226 2126
Contact Email : Hsias@Cerebos.Com.Sg
Url : Www.Hsias.Org
Singapore Chinese 47 Hill Street , Singapore 179365
Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Tel: 65-3378381, Fax: 65-3391609
Http://Wcbn.Com.Sg/
The Singapore Indian Chamber Of 101 Cecil Street , #23 - 01/04, Tong Eng Building,
Commerce And Industry (Sicci) Singapore 069533
Telephone :6222-2855 / 6222-2505
Fax : 6223-1707, Email : Sicci@Sicci.Co
The Disabled People's Association Of 150a, Pandan Gardens, #02-00, Day Care Centre, (Ayer
Singapore. Rajah Community Center) Singapore 609342 , Tel.: (65)
6899-1220
Fax: (65) 6899-1232, E-Mail Dpa@Dpa.Org.Sg.
Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association 2 Sengkang Square, #05-01, Sengkang Community Hub,
Singapore 545025,
Tel : 6732 1122 Fax : 6732 4564
Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Blk 135, Jurong East Street 13, #04-349
Association (Sata) - Singapore (Sg) Tel: 66659283

Singapore Medical Association 2 College Road

Level 2, Alumni Medical Centre
Singapore 169850
Telephone: +65 6223 1264
Fascimile: +65 6224 7827
Singapore Veterinary Association 5 Maxwell Rd, #18-00 Tower Block
Mnd Complex, Singapore 069110
Fax: 65 - 62 20 6068, Email: Sva@Sva.Org.Sg
Health Promotion Board 3 Second Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168937
Tel 6435 3500, Fax 6438 3848
Singapore Red Cross Directory Red Cross House 15 Penang Lane
Singapore 238486
Tel : 6 336 0269, Fax : 6 337 4360
The Singapore Pharmacy Board 14 College Road, Harrower Hall, Singapore 169853,
Contact Numbers: (65) 6325 1611,
(65) 6325 1615, Fax Number: (65) 6325 1618
 Email: Moh_Spb@Moh.Gov.Sg
Singapore Heart Foundation Level 1, Hpb Building, 3 Second Hospital Avenue,
Singapore 168937,
Tel : (65) 6236 0630, Fax : (65) 6438 8312
Email: Info@Heart.Org.Sg
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Bioprocessing Technology Institute Singapore 138668 ,
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National University Of Singapore,
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