Adapted from The Straits Times, Nov 5, 2025
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has tabled a new Health Information Bill (HIB) in Parliament, aiming to make the sharing of patients’ medical data among healthcare providers mandatory.
If passed, the Bill will require all licensed healthcare providers, including GP clinics, private hospitals, and community pharmacists, to upload their patient records to the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system. The goal is to reduce duplicated tests, prevent prescription errors, and ensure that medical information remains accurate and up to date across all care settings.
Centralised Record System
Since its launch in 2011, the NEHR has collected records from public hospitals and polyclinics, containing details such as diagnoses, medication, allergies, and lab results. With the new Bill, private providers will now be included, creating a unified database for the nation’s health information.
Only authorised medical professionals directly involved in a patient’s care will be able to access the NEHR, and healthcare institutions will be required to adopt strong cybersecurity and privacy measures. Data breaches affecting more than 500 individuals must be reported to both regulators and the affected patients.
Safeguards and Patient Rights
The Bill outlines clear boundaries for data use. Employers and insurers cannot access NEHR data for hiring or claims decisions. Sensitive information — such as genetic data, pregnancy termination, and sexually transmitted infections — will have extra access restrictions.
Patients will also have the option to restrict sharing of their records. However, MOH notes that doing so may limit the quality of care. In emergencies, doctors can override such restrictions to save lives, though all overrides will be audited.
Broader Implications
The HIB complements Singapore’s push toward digital healthcare integration, supporting initiatives like Healthier SG and national disease prevention programmes. With proper safeguards, the system is expected to strengthen continuity of care, enhance patient safety, and streamline medical processes across the public and private sectors.
