In the past, SingHealth’s retail pharmacies were individually managed by the respective institutions they were located in, causing inconsistencies in product ranges and prices in different outlets. In 2017, SingHealth Pharmacare was established to consolidate the retail pharmacies across SingHealth institutions.
Bringing together multiple pharmacies under a unified brand, SingHealth Pharmacare is now responsible for standardised operations and customer care throughout its stores. From its inaugural outlet at SingHealth Polyclinic in Bedok, it has expanded to 12 retail outlets and two e-commerce platforms.
All new products introduced into Pharmacare will be evaluated by the team comprising staff from the Operations, Purchasing, Marketing and Merchandise departments, said Ms Eileen Loh, Merchandise Lead, Pharmacare, who oversees the selection process. “Each product is closely evaluated based on the needs of patients, price competitiveness, market trend, and doctor’s recommendation,” she said. “While the majority of Pharmacare retail products are available across all outlets, there are certain specialised or specific-need products that are only available at outlets affiliated with relevant institutions.”
“For specialists clinics and hospitals like the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Sleep Clinic, there are specific products to address the needs of different patient demographics,” said Mr Leo Choo, Senior Executive, Pharmacare. For example, the NCCS outlet stocks a specialised bra suitable for patients with breast cancer. Customers can schedule appointments with product advisors at the NCCS outlet should they prefer more personalised and discreet assistance. This saves them the potential embarrassment of discussing their condition with staff at other retail establishments. Non-NCCS patients can also buy them at the outlet at the same price.
Another product specific to a selected Pharmacare outlet is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Following feedback from the SGH Sleep Clinic, which highlighted to Pharmacare the need for a particular CPAP machine, Pharmacare liaised with various suppliers and manufacturers to identify the most suitablemachine that met the stringent standards for quality, reliability and affordability. Now, when a patient receives a prescription for a CPAP machine from the SGH Sleep Clinic, doctors can simply direct them to the SGH store. This eliminates the need for patients to navigate the complexities of sourcing their own CPAP machine.
Furthermore, Pharmacare offers Pioneer and Merdeka Generation discounts instore to eligible customers, said Mr Kelvin Loo, Operations Manager, Pharmacare. “SingHealth patients can also enjoy subsidised prices for selected items instore by producing an appointment card or appointment SMS.”
Available online
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, patients faced challenges accessing healthcare products due to restrictions entering healthcare facilities. In 2021, Pharmacare launched products for sale online through Lazada, where patients receive the items via home delivery, thus reducing potential exposure to the virus.
Concurrently, Pharmacare also worked on its own e-commerce platform, which launched in 2023, to offer additional rewards and benefits for patients and staff. SingHealth Pharmacare Online (
www.pharmacaresinghealth.sg) offers a wider range of products, including exclusive products and members’ benefits.
Beyond healthcare products, it also has a selection of lifestyle products such as bath soap, sunscreen sunglasses, trendy tote bags, and healthy snacks and supplements. machine that met the stringent standards for quality, reliability and affordability. Now, when a patient receives a prescription for a CPAP machine from the SGH Sleep Clinic, doctors can simply direct them to the SGH store. This eliminates the need for patients to navigate the complexities of sourcing their own CPAP machine.
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