Public Consultation on the Health Information Bill

a)

Ensure that health information is kept updated, accurate, and accessible 

The Bill will mandate all healthcare providers licensed under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA) and approved contributors to contribute selected and accurate patient health information to the NEHR.

Access to the NEHR data will also be granted to licensed healthcare providers and approved users for patient care purposes.

Establishing an up-to-date centralised record which healthcare providers can access enables the delivery of seamless, coordinated, and appropriate care. Patients benefit from the reduced duplicative tests, investigations, and need to repeat their full medical history to different healthcare providers. This saves time and costs.

b)

Establish a robust framework for the sharing of health information

The Bill will simplify the health data sharing framework and provide greater clarity on the boundaries of data sharing. This will help facilitate the flow of information between providers and to selected social care services for patient care purposes.

Shared heath information improves the efficiency and quality of patient care. It supports care continuity for patients moving between primary or specialist care, acute and community care providers. It enables more timely preventive care measures and social support under national health initiatives such as Healthier SG.

c)

Set out the relevant data security and cybersecurity requirements that healthcare providers must comply with.

The Bill will set in place cybersecurity and data security safeguards to govern the collection, access, use and sharing of health information which healthcare providers will have to comply with.

Healthcare providers who use the health information must also comply with requirements to report any cybersecurity incidents and/or data breaches.

Residents can be assured of privacy safeguards that includes measures to protect patient privacy and measures protect against the accidental or malicious leakage of health information. Sensitive medical data will be handled securely and confidentially with robust cyber and data security measures in place.