Singapore (VNA) – Singapore is set to enhance legal protections surrounding the collection and use of its citizens’ genetic data, to clearly define what such data can and cannot be used for.
Speaking at the ninth CHI Innovate 2025, NHG Health’s flagship innovation conference, held last week at the Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that in order to deliver seamless healthcare—especially in community settings—patient data needs to be collected and shared among the healthcare providers they consult. However, this has immediately raised cybersecurity concerns, which the Ministry of Health (MOH) is addressing by reinforcing the legal framework.
Specifically, the ministry is drafting a new piece of legislation—the proposed Health Information Act. In addition to various data protection measures, the Act will allow patients to choose whether or not to share their health data across the different providers they have received treatment from. The law will also clarify the intended purposes of genetic data—such as for medical treatment—and restrict its use in areas like employment or insurance decisions. MOH said it would carry out extensive public consultations on the proposed legislation.
Currently, genetic screening for public health conditions is being conducted as part of a national effort to boost preventive healthcare in Singapore. For example, since June 30, eligible residents have been able to access subsidised screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a hereditary condition that leads to elevated cholesterol levels.
The initiative is intended to enable early detection and reduce the risk of premature heart disease through timely intervention./.
