Singapore announced plans on November 8, 2017 to introduce new legislation making it compulsory for medical providers to contribute data to the country’s National Electronic Health Record (NEHR). The NEHR was set up in 2011, but contributions of medical data have so far been voluntary. Low participation rates prompted the government to propose the bill, which is expected to become law in 2018. Health Minister Gan Kim Yang said the move would help patients by making it easier for doctors and care teams to access their information and provide “coordinated, holistic, and safer care.” He said that was especially important as more patients suffer from multiple medical conditions and need care across several specialties. The bill is expected to give medical providers 2-3 years to achieve compliance and the government plans to give institutions logistical and technical support to do so.
