Infectious Diseases Act 1976 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Control of Hiv Infection
25A. Disclosure by Director-General of Health, medical practitioner and recipient of information
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2024. 3 amendments in all.
The Director-General of Health may disclose any information relating to any person whom the Director-General of Health reasonably believes to be infected with HIV infection to —
Director-General
“Director-General” means the Director‑General of Public Health appointed under section 3(1) of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987;
any medical practitioner or other health staff who has been exposed to a risk of infection from HIV infection; or
any first responder who has experienced a significant exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials of any patient.
In subsection (1), “first responder” means any police officer, member of the Singapore Civil Defence Force or any person who provides emergency response, first aid care or other medically related assistance either in the course of the person’s occupational duties or as a volunteer.
Subject to subsection (4), a medical practitioner may disclose information relating to any person whom the medical practitioner reasonably believes to be infected with HIV infection to the spouse, former spouse or other contact of the infected person or to a Health Officer for the purpose of making the disclosure to the spouse, former spouse or other contact.
medical practitioner
“medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered or exempted from registration under the Medical Registration Act 1997;
The medical practitioner must not disclose any information under subsection (3) unless the medical practitioner —
reasonably believes that it is medically appropriate and that there is a significant risk of infection to the spouse, former spouse or other contact;
has counselled the infected person regarding the need to notify the spouse, former spouse or other contact and the medical practitioner reasonably believes that the infected person will not inform the spouse, former spouse or other contact; and
has informed the infected person of the medical practitioner’s intent to make such disclosure to the spouse, former spouse or other contact.
Where the medical practitioner is unable, by any reasonable means, to counsel or inform the infected person, the medical practitioner may apply to the Director-General of Health to waive the requirements of subsection (4)(b) or (c) or both.
infected
“infected” means infected with the micro‑organism or agent of an infectious disease;
The Director-General of Health may approve the application made under subsection (5) if, in the opinion of the Director-General of Health, it is medically appropriate to disclose the information and there is a significant risk of infection to the spouse, former spouse or other contact.
contact
“contact”, in relation to any infectious disease, means any person who has been exposed to the risk of infection from that disease;
A person, to whom any information relating to another person who is reasonably believed to be infected with HIV infection has been disclosed under this section, must not disclose such information to any person other than the persons specified in subsection (8) or as provided in subsection (10).
The persons mentioned in subsection (7) are —
the infected person himself or herself;
a person who is authorised under section 25(1)(a) to consent to such disclosure; and
any person who is authorised to disclose such information under subsection (1), (3) or (6) or section 25(1).
Any person who contravenes subsection (7) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
A person, to whom any information relating to a person who is reasonably believed to be infected with HIV infection has been disclosed under this section, may apply to the Director-General of Health for approval to disclose such information to any person or class of persons.
The Director-General of Health may approve the application under subsection (10) if the Director-General of Health is satisfied that such disclosure is in the interests of public health or public safety.