HSA's advisory on the use of pioglitazone

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) would like to update healthcare professionals on the outcome of its recent review of the benefit-risk profile of pioglitazone taking into consideration the new findings of its association with a small increased risk of bladder cancer. HSA with advice from its Pharmacovigilance Advisory Committee (PVAC) and an expert panel of endocrinologists and oncologists has assessed that the benefit-risk profile remains favourable and has put forward additional recommendations to guide doctors on its use so as to minimise the risk of bladder cancer in patients who are prescribed with the medicine. The local package insert of pioglitazone will also be amended accordingly to reflect the additional contraindications, warnings and precautions associated with its use. Please refer to the Dear Healthcare Professsional Letter (DHCPL) for the details of HSA's recommendations.

 
 
Healthcare professional, Therapeutic Products
Published:

Dear Healthcare Professional Letters

12 Dec 2019

Only abstracts of the Dear Healthcare Professional Letters (DHCPL) are provided on this website. Details of the letters can be found on the MOH Alert System, which is accessible via the Health Professionals Portal (HPP). HPP is a one-stop portal for all healthcare professionals in Singapore. Dentists, medical doctors and pharmacists may access HPP at https://www.hpp.moh.gov.sg/, and follow the procedures below to access the MOH Alert system.

Step 1: Scroll down to the bottom navigation panel of the HPP web page. Under the Healthcare Professionals section, expand the dropdown option for ‘Healthcare Professional Portal’ and select your profession. You will be redirected to the specific HPP web page to log in.

Step 2: Click on the Restricted Content icon on the left panel of the web page and log in via SingPass.

Step 3: Click on the MOH Alert icon under the ‘Applications’ section.

Step 4: Click on the Drug Alert tab to view the DHCPLs.