S$45 million grant to help healthcare providers meet new data-sharing, cybersecurity rules
The one-off funding supports clinics, nursing homes and private hospitals in adopting or upgrading their health information systems.
People waiting outside a clinic in Aljunied Crescent. (Photo: CNA/Calvin Oh)
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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will set aside up to S$45 million (US$35.6 million) over the next four years to help healthcare providers bear the costs of contributing to the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR).
In phases from next year, all licensed healthcare providers will be required to share patients' health information with the central repository. They must also implement safeguards to protect that data, and promptly notify MOH of any confirmed cybersecurity incidents or breaches.
CNA previously reported concerns from doctors, particularly those running smaller clinics, about the costs of compliance.
The one-off funding, called the NEHR Connect Grant, will be available from July.
Providers using subscription-based health information management systems – which MOH said make up the majority of smaller practices – can receive funding to cover about two years of subscription costs for systems compliant with the Health Information Act.
Those with in-house systems requiring upgrades will be eligible for up to 40 per cent of enhancement costs, subject to a cap depending on provider type, such as clinical laboratories and private hospitals.
Healthcare providers that have previously received MOH funding for NEHR-related work will not be eligible.
Beyond the new grant, providers can also tap schemes from the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and Enterprise Singapore to offset costs such as hiring cybersecurity consultants or purchasing IT solutions like firewalls and anti-malware tools.
A typical clinic with five staff members can receive around S$20,000 in grants when combining the new NEHR Connect Grant with existing schemes from other agencies, said Senior Minister of State for Health Tan Kiat How in parliament.
Mr Tan added that MOH is working with vendors of health information management systems to help providers meet the new requirements, and that resource guides and training will be made available to guide providers and their staff through implementation.
This article has been amended to correct the details of when licensed healthcare providers have to share patients' information with the central repository. We apologise for the error.
