The Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE), the national health technology assessment agency in Singapore, releases its first version of the methods guide for medicine assessment entitled “Drug Evaluation Methods & Process Guide (Version 1)” in support of their technical evaluations to inform coverage decisions for treatments as well as the development of guidelines on the rational use of treatments for health facilities in Singapore.

Aiming to standardize their methods and promote the transparency of their processes, this guide lays out the fundamental methodology and process framework supporting the evaluation of the clinical and economic evidence and value-based pricing processes for medicines which are being considered for government subsidy. As such, the guide sits within the Ministry of Health Drug Advisory Committee’s (DAC) decision-making processes for drug coverage through listing on the Standard Drug List (SDL) or the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF). Likewise, this document shall guide healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry who also provide evidence and advice to support ACE’s evaluations.

This methods guide outlines the process framework from topic selection, technology evaluation, scoping, evidence generation and critical appraisal, the reference case, value-based pricing, as well as processes for independent evidence review centers, decision-making, and guidance development and implementation.