In brief

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed its intention to table the Health Information Bill (Bill) in the second half of 2023. Through the Bill, the MOH seeks to enable the collection of patients’ selected health data from healthcare providers and to allow healthcare providers to share patient information with one another in a safe and secure manner. 

In September 2022, the MOH submitted the White Paper on Healthier SG to Parliament. Key features of Healthier SG — which is the name given to the major reform of the healthcare system — include the mobilization of the network of family doctors to deliver preventive care for residents and the setting up of necessary enablers such as IT.

During the parliamentary debates on the White Paper on Healthier SG in October 2022, the MOH raised that one of the key tools for the successful implementation of Healthier SG is the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR), a central repository of patient summary health records. This would allow healthcare workers, including family doctors, to draw from and contribute to this common platform. To facilitate the proper collection, use and sharing of health data among healthcare providers in a safe and secure manner, the MOH announced its intention to introduce the Bill.

In March 2023, the MOH confirmed its intention to table the Bill in the second half of 2023, sharing that, as of December 2022, all public healthcare institutions and over 30% of private MOH-licensed healthcare institutions have access to NEHR.

Once the Bill has been implemented, the MOH would be able to benefit patients, residents and healthcare providers in the following ways:

1. By increasing the functionality of the NEHR through mandatory contribution of summary data by licensed healthcare providers as well as prescribed users like retail pharmacists.
2. By enhancing the legal framework to facilitate proactive data sharing across MOH entities, Healthcare Services Act licensees and appointed community partners to facilitate better monitoring and follow-ups.
3. By implementing safeguards for data sharing to protect patient confidentiality and respect patient autonomy.
4. By implementing cybersecurity, data security and data protection measures to safeguard health information.

Since May 2022, the MOH has consulted with more than 800 residents, patients, industry experts and h...