Import fees drastically lowered for medical devices

Up to 70% fee reduction for four types of medical devices brought under the Special Authorisation Routes.

Starting 1 August 2012, Singapore practitioners who request for GN-26 named-patient medical devices will be charged $150 instead of $500, a 70% decrease, under the new fee structure.

Similarly, Singapore firms who import GN-27 medical devices for licensed private hospitals and medical clinics will be charged $350 from $500, while both GN-28 medical devices for re-export purposes and GN-29 medical devices for non-clinical use had their fees halved to $250 from $500.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) lowered the fees for the import of medical devices brought under the Special

Authorisation Routes to expedite access and manage regulatory costs for medical devices.

“Taking into account concerns expressed about access and cost issues and to ensure that medical devices continue to be optimally available for patient care, HSA has further streamlined processes for reviewing and approving SAR applications. This is reflected in the lower SAR application fees that we are implementing,” said Dr Raymond Chua, Group Director of HSA's Health Products Regulation Group.

“This announcement on fee revisions will certainly benefit many companies," said Ms Jane Fong, Committee Member of Singapore Manufacturers' Federation Medical Technology Industry Group. "I am pleased to know that HSA is taking steps and finding solutions to address certain issues that the industry is presently facing."

"Singapore Manufacturers' Federation (SMa) looks forward to continue working closely with HSA to regularly review and enhance the regulatory framework for medical devices to ensure appropriate use of these routes,” she added.