Proposed new law protecting Singaporeans' genetic data to be strengthened

The Star

10-07-2025

SINGAPORE: The proposed new law to protect genetic data collected on Singaporeans will be strengthened to provide greater clarity on what the hereditary information can or cannot be used for.
And the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be conducting broad public consultations on the topic, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said.
'For healthcare to be delivered seamlessly across all settings, and especially in the community, a patient's data needs to be captured and shared among healthcare providers whom he sought care from,' he said.
Doing so immediately raises concerns about cybersecurity, which MOH is addressing by strengthening the legislative structure, he added.
The Health Minister was speaking at the 9th CHI Innovate 2025, NHG Health's flagship innovation conference, on July 10, where at the Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation.
Genetic screening for medical conditions of the general public is already being carried out as part of a nationwide programme to enhance preventive care in Singapore.
Starting June 30, eligible Singapore residents, for instance, can be screened for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol levels, at a subsidised rate. The initiative aims to identify individuals with FH early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease with timely interventions.
To address the worries about data privacy, Ong, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, said his ministry is coming up with a new law – the proposed Health Information Act.
'Under the Act, beyond various data protection measures, a patient can choose to restrict the sharing of his medical data among the healthcare providers that he sought care from,' he said.
While this may not be an ideal arrangement and may undermine quality of care for the patient, making such a choice available addresses fears and instils confidence, he added.
Ong said that when genetic data is easily available, there will be public concerns on how the data is used and whether technology 'will inadvertently push us across societal and ethical lines'.
'MOH is therefore working on enhancing legislative protections on the use of genetic test information and will be conducting broad public consultation.
'The legislation will provide greater clarity on what genetic information can be used for, such as for medical treatment, and what it cannot be used for, such as in deciding employment and insurance (coverage),' he said.
Ong said beyond addressing the fears and concerns arising from technology, everyone can be empowered to participate in innovation and leverage technology to do a better job.
But he warned that as digital technology revolutionises human communications, it might have also rewired the minds of a generation.
'The evidence is still being debated, but ask any psychologist or counsellor, and they will tell you stories of how smart devices, video games or social media addiction have inflicted pain on young minds,' he said.
Ong said while there is no doubt artificial intelligence (AI) will have a profound impact on society, healthcare institutions need to 'use it judiciously and deploy it thoughtfully'.
In employing AI, NHG Health has signed a five-year master collaboration agreement with ST Engineering to co-develop and implement engineering and smart systems to further enhance patient care and optimise health service delivery.
The group also signed a memorandum of understanding with Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Hong Kong-based Cornerstone Robotics to focus on advanced research and innovation in surgical robotics systems.
This alliance will identify future robotic-assisted surgery for a wider range of conditions treated at the hospitals under NHG Health and offer safer, less invasive and more affordable procedures to the patients. - The Straits Times/ANN