The key HCSA amendments made were:

1. Regulation of Different Modes of Service Delivery (MOSDs)

- To better cater for emerging models of care and to futureproof HCSA, four different modes of service delivery have been introduced for each Licensable Healthcare Service (LHS).

- The 4 MOSDs are:

i. Permanent Premises, which are your typical brick-and-mortar premises like medical clinics;

ii. Conveyances, where the healthcare service is delivered from a vehicle, such as dental buses;

iii. Temporary Premises, such as house calls and ad hoc health screenings, and

iv. Remote provision, which involves delivery of health services through online virtual platforms.

2. Approval for the Delivery of Specified Services (SSes) and Clinical Governance Officer (CGO).

- To safeguard the provision of healthcare services, and to ensure that suitably qualified individuals are appointed upfront, licensees are required to seek approval from MOH before providing SSes and appointing their CGOs.

3. Restricting the Use of Specialty Names, and the terms “Singapore” and National” in Business Names

- To prevent misleading patients, licensees are not allowed to use terms associated with specialties in their business name if there is no such specialist employed/engaged by them, nor are they allowed to use the terms “Singapore” or “National” without prior approval from MOH.

4. Enhanced Advertising Controls to Prevent Misleading Patients:

- Non-HCSA licensees are prohibited from claiming to treat medical conditions or diseases in any language when advertising healthcare services.

- Mandatory disclosure of qualifications in healthcare advertising for the use of “Dr” title by a) non-registered healthcare practitioners and b) retired or overseas trained healthcare practitioners.

5. Refined Scope of Employment Restriction for Prospective Individuals Employed/Engaged by Certain Licensees*

- IMH and Nursing Home licensees will need to screen prospective individuals who are expected to provide direct patient care to psychiatric patients and vulnerable patients respectively.

6. Removal of the 14-day Notice Prior to Modification of Licence Conditions in Special Circumstances

- This allows MOH to impose licence conditions immediately to address urgent patient safety issues in special circumstances, such as during a pandemic.

*This requirement will tentatively come into effect in Q3 2024.