Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
Singapore speeds up health regulation to attract clinical research
Singapore wants to become a trusted regional centre for clinical research and evidence gathering.
On Monday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced steps to speed up reviews of drugs and clinical trials.
A new priority track will let selected health products undergo regulatory review and health technology assessment at the same time.
Singapore also plans to work with the United Kingdom on a regulatory corridor for breakthrough treatments, including those involving artificial intelligence.
The changes could cut approval reviews for selected lower-risk Phase 3 trials from 30 days to 15 days, and reduce the wait for an initial health technology assessment decision from about a year to six to nine months after regulatory approval.
Singapore is also bringing regulatory functions now handled by different bodies together under the Health Sciences Authority, with the first transfer due on Nov 1 and another planned by the end of 2027.
The government says this should simplify the path from research to patient access while maintaining rigorous oversight.
Singapore announced measures to speed up regulation of drug development and clinical trials as it seeks to become a regional clinical research hub.
A new priority track will let selected health products undergo regulatory evaluation and health technology assessment at the same time.
The measures could cut approval times for selected lower-risk Phase 3 trials from 30 days to 15 days.
Singapore is also working towards World Health Organization listed authority status for vaccines.
Regulatory functions now handled by the Ministry of Health and professional boards are due to transfer to the Health Sciences Authority in two phases.
- Who
- Singapore’s Ministry of Health and Health Sciences Authority announced the measures. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung presented them.
- What
- Singapore is speeding up regulatory processes for drug development, clinical trials and health technology assessment.
- When
- The measures were announced on Oct 12, 2026.
- Where
- Singapore.
- Why
- Singapore aims to become one of the region’s most trusted and efficient places for clinical research and evidence generation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Each hand-off can add time, cost and uncertainty. We want to simplify and streamline this journey, without compromising the independence or rigour of each regulatory process.
Singapore, with all these efforts, is not simply a market of six million people. We can serve as a trusted gateway to markets encompassing hundreds of millions of people across other countries and regions.
Parliament passed the Health Sciences Authority (Amendment) and Other Matters Bill, establishing HSA as Singapore’s integrated health regulator.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced measures to speed up regulatory processes at the inaugural Health Regulatory Conference.
The first phase of the transfer of MOH regulatory functions and manpower to HSA is scheduled to take place.
The second phase, transferring the Secretariat of healthcare Professional Boards’ functions and manpower to HSA, is scheduled to be completed.
- Phase 3 trial approvals
- Could fall from 30 days to 15 days for selected lower-risk trials
- First health technology assessment decision
- Could take six to nine months after regulatory approval, down from about one year
- Priority track
- HSA and ACE will assess selected health products simultaneously
- Regulatory functions transfer
- MOH functions and manpower move to HSA on Nov 1, 2026
- Second transfer phase
- Secretariat of healthcare Professional Boards functions and manpower move to HSA by end-2027
Sources
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