ACE Technology Guidances communicate recommendations from the MOH Drug Advisory Committee or the MOH Medical Technology Advisory Committee on the funding status and appropriate use of drugs, vaccines or medical technologies that have been evaluated by ACE. The guidances also include the Committee’s rationale for the funding recommendations, and key clinical and economic evidence which informed their deliberations. Plain English Summaries (PES) to explain ACE Technology Guidances are available for patients and the public.

Published on 01 Jul 2022
Last Updated on 01 Jul 2022
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Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
  • Tofacitinib 5 mg tablet for treating adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) who have failed conventional therapy and/or anti-TNFα biologics; and
  • Vedolizumab 300 mg/vial powder for concentrate for solution for infusion for treating adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD) who have failed both conventional therapy and anti-TNFα biologics.

Subsidy status

Tofacitinib 5 mg tablets and vedolizumab 300 mg/vial powder for concentrate for solution for infusion are recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indications.

Tofacitinib and vedolizumab should be used in line with the clinical criteria for initial and continuing prescriptions for patients with UC and CD in the respective MAF checklists.

Listing on MAF will be implemented on 1 July 2022.

MAF assistance does not apply to any formulations or strengths of ustekinumab for treating CD and UC.


Tofacitinib, ustekinumab and vedolizumab for treating inflammatory bowel disease (1 Jul 22) PES Treatments for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease (Published 1 July 2022)