MOH Singapore introduces regulatory sandbox for telemedicine

The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched a new Licensing Experimentation and Adaptation Programme (LEAP) for telemedicine services. Telemedicine offers greater convenience and improved accessibility to medical support and medication through new digital self-help options, the MOH said.

First announced by Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr Lam Pin Min, at the 2018 Committee of Supply debate, LEAP will provide regulatory sandboxes that enable new and innovative models and services to be developed and refined in a safe and controlled environment. Participating providers and MOH will achieve this through clear boundary conditions, data governance measures and risk mitigation strategies.

LEAP will bring about a wide range of potential benefits:

For patients and caregivers

Those utilising services under LEAP will benefit from early access to new healthcare models while being assured that essential safety and risk mitigation measures are in place. 

For providers 

Providers participating in the regulatory sandbox will be able to introduce new healthcare models or evolve their current models in a safe manner, with early visibility over the eventual regulatory environment. This positions them to transit more seamlessly into the eventual regulatory framework and meet patient safety and welfare requirements.

For MOH 

By working alongside providers participating in the sandbox, MOH can develop more timely, fit-for-purpose and effective regulations that support new services that benefit patients while safeguarding their interests. Services under the sandbox can eventually transition to licensed services.

For identification purposes, MOH
sandbox providers will bear a
Regulatory Sandbox logo.

Telemedicine will be the first service to come under LEAP. MOH will take a risk-based approach by focusing on teleconsultation services, which provide direct clinical care such as diagnosis and intervention between a doctor and patient. The ministry plans to eventually regulate telemedicine as a licensed healthcare service after the successful completion of the regulatory sandbox.

The first two providers participating in the programme are WhiteCoat and RingMD. More providers may come on board later, as more telemedicine providers recognise the benefits of LEAP and work to meet the requirements, MOH said. 

Details:

View the updated list of telemedicine providers participating in the regulatory sandbox.