Pharmacy FAQs

Does the pharmacy accept my prescription benefit card?

• The pharmacy accepts a large number of prescription benefit cards and contracts with the relevant providers. You may wish to enquire with our pharmacy staff before submitting your prescription for processing. We can determine if your benefit card is acceptable.

What can I do to get my prescriptions filled faster?

• The outpatient pharmacy is very busy especially from 11.00am to 12.30pm and from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. Incomplete details and payment issues cause many delays. You can help us to serve you faster by providing us the complete details of your medication needs and payment scheme before submiting the prescription. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the pharmacy during off-peak hours.

Can I get refills on my prescriptions?

• Yes, if the physician indicates refills on the original prescriptions. Otherwise, a new prescription must be obtained for further refills.

Does the pharmacy sell over-the-counter (OTC) medications?

• The pharmacy sells a limited range of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, catering only to our patient's needs/uses. There are also limited Pharmacy Only Medicines (POM) available.

Why can't I get a refund on medications I no longer take?

• We have strict policies and procedures governing the return of medications from patient to pharmacy, as we believe our patients should receive safe and effective medication.

Can I claim the medication cost through Medisave / Medishield?

• Certain drugs can be claimed through Medisave/Medishield. For more details, please approach our pharmacy staff.

Why can't I get a full supply of medication if my doctor prescribes for a year?

• The quality of medication can be adversely affected by storage conditions. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of medications, our pharmacy usually dispenses up to a maximum of 3 months supply per item to patients.
• Should the patient develop intolerance to the medication and has to stop taking it, the remaining supply will be wasted. Medications are not returnable to pharmacy after they have been stored at home by patients.

Why does the doctor sometimes prescribe medicines that are not available in NCCS Pharmacy?

• The doctor may prescribe any drug for the patient. However, the range of drugs kept at our pharmacy is governed by institutional drug policies.

If I don’t want to queue after I’ve seen the doctor, can I get my medication delivered to me?

• Yes, with a valid prescription from a SingHealth institution, patients can choose for their medication to be delivered to your home or office. For more info, please access this link on the Medication Delivery Service.