SINGAPORE – A proposed new law to protect genetic data collected on Singaporeans will be strengthened to provide greater clarity on what this hereditary information can or cannot be used for.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be conducting broad public consultations on the topic, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said.

“For healthcare to be delivered seamlessly across all settings, and especially in the community, a patient’s data needs to be captured and shared among healthcare providers whom he sought care from,” he said.

Doing so immediately raises concerns about cyber security, which MOH is addressing by strengthening the legislative structure, he added.

The Health Minister was speaking at the 9th CHI Innovate 2025, NHG Health’s flagship innovation conference, on July 10, held at the Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation. 

Genetic screening for medical conditions of the general public is already being carried out as part of a nationwide programme to enhance preventive care in Singapore.

Starting June 30, eligible Singapore residents, for instance, can be

screened for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

, a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol levels, at a subsidised rate. The initiative aims to identify individuals with FH early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease with timely interventions.

To address the worries about data privacy, Mr Ong, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, said his ministry is coming up with a new law – the proposed Health Information Act.

“Under the Act, beyond various data protection measures, a patient can choose to restrict the sharing of his medical data among the healthcare providers that he sought care from,” he said.