SINGAPORE — Singapore is moving towards a more integrated healthcare regulatory system, with the Health Sciences Authority set to take on additional responsibilities covering healthcare services, biomedical research and professional regulation.
The move is part of a wider effort to bring different areas of healthcare regulation and enforcement under a more coordinated framework as the sector becomes increasingly complex.
Healthcare functions to move from MOH
Under the new arrangement, functions currently handled by the Ministry of Health’s Health Regulation Group will be transferred to the HSA in phases.
The first phase, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, will see manpower and functions involving healthcare administration, licensing, inspections, audits and enforcement move to the HSA.
This will expand the agency’s role beyond its existing responsibilities in regulating health products and medical devices.
Professional regulation to follow
A second phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
This will involve moving manpower and functions from the Secretariat of the healthcare Professional Boards to the HSA.
The transferred responsibilities will include work involving policies, guidelines and processes that support the regulation of healthcare professionals.
The change is designed to create a more coordinated system across healthcare services, health products, biomedical research and professional regulation.
Building a more integrated regulatory hub
Singapore’s healthcare landscape has become increasingly complex with the development of new technologies, medical treatments and healthcare delivery models.
The Government said the restructuring would bring several regulatory functions together under an integrated hub.
Over time, the HSA is expected to strengthen coordination between different regulatory frameworks and redesign processes to provide clearer guidance for healthcare providers, licensed professionals and the public.
Biomedical research also part of expanded role
The HSA’s responsibilities are also being expanded to cover additional areas involving human biomedical research and related activities.
Changes to legislation will support the agency’s broader role in regulating biomedical research, human tissue activities and other areas that increasingly overlap with healthcare and health-product regulation.
HSA already plays a major enforcement role
The HSA currently regulates a wide range of health products, including medicines, medical devices, cell and gene therapy products, cosmetics and traditional medicines.
It also works with other government agencies to combat illegal health products and other offences.
In 2025, the agency seized more than 1.06 million units of illegal health products and removed over 2,300 illegal online listings, according to official figures released earlier this year.
Enforcement and regulation under one system
The expanded structure is expected to improve coordination between licensing, inspections, audits and enforcement.
Singapore authorities have increasingly focused on the challenges posed by emerging technologies, new healthcare services, online sales and biomedical innovation.
Bringing more functions under the HSA could allow regulators to respond more effectively to issues that cross traditional boundaries between healthcare services, health products and professional practice.
The bottom line
Singapore is set to consolidate more of its healthcare regulatory and enforcement functions under the Health Sciences Authority in a major restructuring of the country’s health oversight system.
The first phase will transfer healthcare licensing, inspections, audits and enforcement functions from the Ministry of Health by the end of 2026, followed by functions supporting professional healthcare regulation by the end of 2027.
The expanded HSA will also play a broader role in areas including healthcare services and biomedical research.
The goal is to create a more integrated regulatory system capable of keeping pace with rapidly changing healthcare technology, services and public health challenges.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
Leave a Reply