Singapore legislation
Regulation 2
Regulation 2
Definitions
Subregulation 1
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —[Deleted by S 403/2023 wef 26/06/2023][Deleted by S 231/2025 wef 01/04/2025](2) For the purposes of these Regulations —
if the day on which a person was born cannot be ascertained but the month of the person’s birth can be ascertained, the person is taken to be born on the first day of the month in which the person was born;
if the month in which the person was born cannot be ascertained, the person is taken to be born in January.(3) For the purposes of paragraphs 19 and 20 of the Third Schedule —
“at-risk traveller” means an insured person who —
makes a relevant journey; and
begins to show symptoms consistent with COVID‑19 infection before the end of the at‑risk traveller’s possible incubation period in relation to that relevant journey;
“COVID-19” means the infectious disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019;
“possible incubation period”, in relation to each relevant journey of an at‑risk traveller, means a period starting upon the arrival in Singapore of the at‑risk traveller at the end of that relevant journey and ending on and including the 14th day after that day of arrival in Singapore;
subject to sub-paragraph (e), an insured person makes a relevant journey if —
the insured person leaves Singapore on or after 27 March 2020; and
that insured person’s journey is against any travel advisory concerning the risk of COVID‑19 infection, issued by the Ministry of Health and published on the website of that Ministry, that is applicable to that journey; and
an insured person does not make a relevant journey if that insured person satisfies the Minister that the insured person had a compelling reason for undertaking the journey mentioned in sub‑paragraph (d) despite the travel advisory.(4) In these Regulations, in relation to admissions before 1 October 2022, “radiosurgery treatment” means the gamma knife treatment or the Novalis shaped beam treatment of neurosurgical or neurological disorders.(5) For the purposes of these Regulations, a patient is taken to have been transferred —
from any approved permanent premises of an approved restructured hospital to receiving MIC@Home treatment provided by that approved restructured hospital;
from receiving MIC@Home treatment provided by an approved restructured hospital to any approved permanent premises of that approved restructured hospital (except where the patient is treated by the emergency department of the approved restructured hospital immediately after the patient ceases to receive MIC@Home treatment); or
between an approved permanent premises of an approved restructured hospital and an approved permanent premises of an approved community hospital,if the medical treatment or services at the approved permanent premises of the approved restructured hospital and the MIC@Home treatment, or at the different approved permanent premises of the approved restructured hospital and approved community hospital respectively, are provided consecutively (in any order) and without any break in treatment, and the transfer is not taken to be a new admission.
Definition
“additional private insurance coverage” means any private insurance cover provided under an integrated shield plan that is additional to the insurance cover provided by the MediShield Life Component of that integrated shield plan;
Definition
“admission date”, in relation to a claim for any approved medical treatment or services, means the admission date assigned to the approved medical treatment or services claimed in accordance with guidelines issued by the Minister, and “admission” and “admitted” have corresponding meanings;
Definition
“approved cancer drug” means any active ingredient (or combination of active ingredients) in the dosage form and strength listed in the CDL and administered for the corresponding clinical indication listed in the CDL;
Definition
“approved community hospital” means an approved medical institution that provides an intermediate level of care for outpatients and in-patients who have simple ailments that do not require specialist medical and nursing care;
Definition
“approved CTGTP” means any CTGTP specified in the Twelfth Schedule and administered for the corresponding clinical indication specified in the CTGTP List;
Definition
“approved day surgery centre” —
means an approved medical institution that provides day surgical treatment; but(b)does not include an approved medical institution which is a private hospital or restructured hospital;
Definition
“approved dental treatment” means dental work or dental treatment —
owing to accidental injuries;
certified in writing, by an approved medical practitioner, to be necessary in relation to a separate surgical treatment (excluding any surgical treatment specified in the Third Schedule); or
certified in writing, by an approved medical practitioner, to be necessary in relation to any approved medical treatment or services (excluding any medical treatment or services specified in the Third Schedule), and assessed by the Council to be appropriate;
Definition
“approved high-cost drug” means any active ingredient (or combination of active ingredients) in the dosage form and strength listed in the HCDL and administered for the corresponding clinical indication listed in the HCDL;
Definition
“approved in-patient palliative care” means any of the following approved medical treatment or services received as an in-patient of any approved in-patient palliative care institution: (a)general palliative care; (b)specialised palliative care;
Definition
“approved in-patient palliative care institution” means any of the following approved medical institutions that provides in-patient palliative care:
an approved community hospital;
a nursing home;
Definition
“Approved Indications for PBT” means Approved Indications for Use of Proton Beam Therapy in Treatment published on the website of the Ministry of Health at https://www.moh.gov.sg;
Definition
“approved medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner who is approved by the Minister for the purposes of these Regulations;
Definition
“approved OS”, “OS application”, “OS scheme” and “relevant amount” have the meanings given by the MediShield Life Scheme (Scheme for Overseas Singapore Citizens) Regulations 2016 (G.N. No. S 535/2016);
Definition
“approved outpatient treatment” means any of the following approved medical treatment or services that is a claimable medical treatment or services received as an outpatient of any approved medical institution:
renal dialysis;
cancer drug treatment;
radiotherapy treatment;
administration of immunosuppressants for organ transplant;
administration of erythropoietin for dialysis and chronic renal failure;
long term parenteral nutrition provided on or after 1 November 2018;
any medical treatment under the home ventilation and respiratory support programme provided on or after 1 October 2025;
life support home care provided to a paediatric patient on or after 1 October 2025;
negative pressure wound therapy provided on or after 1 October 2025;
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation provided on or after 1 October 2025;
pasteurised donated human milk provided on or after 1 October 2025;
hyperbaric oxygen therapy provided on or after 1 October 2025;
parenteral antibiotics therapy provided on or after 1 October 2025;
autologous bone marrow transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma provided on or after 1 June 2026;
radiosurgery treatment provided on or after 1 June 2026;
administration of an approved CTGTP or approved high-cost drug, provided on or after 1 June 2026;
Definition
“approved permanent premises”, in relation to an approved medical institution, has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020;
Definition
“approved private hospital” means an approved medical institution which is a private hospital;
Definition
“approved proton beam therapy” means any radiotherapy treatment or radiosurgery treatment using proton beam therapy for a clinical indication listed in the Approved Indications for PBT;
Definition
“approved public healthcare institution” means an approved medical institution that is —
a restructured hospital;
any of the following:
National Cancer Centre of Singapore Pte Ltd;
National Dental Centre of Singapore Pte. Ltd.;
National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore Pte Ltd;
National Skin Centre (Singapore) Pte Ltd;
Singapore National Eye Centre Pte Ltd; or
any of the following, in relation to the approved medical institution’s provision of an outpatient medical service within the meaning of the Healthcare Services Act 2020:
Alexandra Health Pte. Ltd.;
National University Health Services Group Pte. Ltd.;
National University Hospital (Singapore) Pte Ltd;
Definition
“approved restructured hospital” means an approved medical institution which is a restructured hospital;
Definition
“approved voluntary welfare organisation” means an approved medical institution that is —
an organisation that is granted membership of the National Council of Social Service under section 15 of the National Council of Social Service Act 1992;
an institution that is registered as a charity under section 7 of the Charities Act 1994; or
an institution of a public character as defined in section 40 of the Charities Act 1994;
Definition
“cancer drug” means any drug, including any approved cancer drug, used for the treatment of neoplasms;
Definition
“cancer drug treatment” means —
the administration of any cancer drug for the treatment of neoplasms; or
any other medical treatment or services ancillary to the administration of any cancer drug for the treatment of neoplasms;
Definition
“CDL” means the Cancer Drug List published on the website of the Ministry of Health at https://www.moh.gov.sg;
Definition
“claim bar date”, in relation to an insured person who is an in-patient of an approved medical institution, means the 7th calendar day after the earliest day when the insured person is both —
certified, by a medical practitioner employed or engaged by the approved medical institution, to be medically fit for discharge from in-patient treatment provided by that approved medical institution; and
assessed by that medical practitioner to have a feasible discharge option;
Definition
“commencement date” —
in relation to an insured person’s MediShield Life cover, means the date determined under regulation 4 from which the insured person’s MediShield Life cover has been continuously in force; or
in relation to an insured person’s pre-existing MediShield cover, means the date from which the insured person’s pre-existing MediShield cover has been continuously in force;
Definition
“CPF member” includes a CPF member who is an undischarged bankrupt;
Definition
“cross implementation claim” means a claim under an insured person’s pre-existing MediShield cover, in respect of approved medical treatment or services received by an insured person as an in-patient, with —
an admission date before 1 November 2015; and
a date of discharge on or after 1 November 2015;
Definition
“cross insurance period claim” means a claim under an insured person’s MediShield Life cover, in respect of approved medical treatment or services received by the insured person as an in-patient (other than a day treatment patient) of an approved medical institution, with an admission date and a date of discharge in different insurance periods;
Definition
“CTGTP” means a health product (within the meaning of the Health Products Act 2007) categorised as a cell, tissue or gene therapy product in the First Schedule to the Health Products Act 2007;
Definition
“CTGTP List” means the Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy Product List published on the website of the Ministry of Health at https://www.moh.gov.sg;
Definition
“CTGTP treatment” means —
the administration of a CTGTP for the treatment of neoplasms; or
any other medical treatment or services ancillary to the administration of any CTGTP for the treatment of neoplasms;
Definition
“day surgical treatment” means any surgical treatment (including any radiosurgery treatment) received by a person who is admitted and discharged on the same day, and includes any ancillary medical treatment received by that person between such admission and discharge;
Definition
“day treatment patient” means a patient who —
receives any approved medical treatment or service specified in the Eleventh Schedule from an approved medical institution; but(b)is not required to be hospitalised for the purpose of receiving that treatment or service;
Definition
“dependant”, in relation to a CPF member, means —
a CPF member’s spouse, child, parent, grandparent or sibling; or
any other person whom the Board approves as a dependant for the purpose of these Regulations;
Definition
“HCDL” means the High-Cost Drug List published on the website of the Ministry of Health at https://www.moh.gov.sg;
Definition
“high-cost drug” means any drug that is indicated for the treatment of any of the following conditions:
haemophilia A;
haemophilia B;
immune thrombocytopenia;
refractory severe aplastic anaemia;
thalassaemia;
any condition associated with growth failure in children with short stature;
spinal muscular atrophy;
Fabry disease;
X-linked hypophosphataemia;
Definition
“home ventilation and respiratory support programme” means a programme administered by Tan Tock Seng Hospital Pte Ltd that provides ventilation or respiratory support equipment for use by a patient in the patient’s place of residence, and any ancillary medical care or service relating to the use of the equipment;
Definition
“hyperbaric oxygen therapy” means treatment involving a patient breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber for any of the following conditions:
air or gas embolism;
carbon monoxide poisoning;
chronic refractory osteomyelitis;
compromised skin grafts and myocutaneous flaps;
a crush injury, compartmental syndrome and other acute ischaemias;
decompression illness;
exceptional blood loss;
gas gangrene;
intracranial abscess;
necrotising soft tissue infections;
non-healing wounds;
osteoradionecrosis and delayed radiation injuries including soft tissue injuries;
thermal burns;
Definition
“in-patient” means —
a patient who —
is admitted for a stay at any approved permanent premises of an approved medical institution, for any treatment other than day surgical treatment, for a period of not less than 8 hours; or
has died within 8 hours after being admitted for any treatment other than day surgical treatment; or
a day treatment patient;
Definition
“insured person” —
in relation to an insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme or an integrated medical insurance plan, means a person who was insured under the MediShield Scheme or integrated medical insurance plan, as the case may be, before 1 November 2015; or
in relation to an integrated shield plan or a medisave-approved plan, means a person who is insured under the integrated shield plan or medisave-approved plan, as the case may be;
Definition
“insurer” means an insurer which is licensed under the Insurance Act 1966;
Definition
“integrated medical insurance plan” means any plan, under which a person was insured before 1 November 2015, under a medical insurance policy approved by the Minister for the purposes of regulation 4(1)(b) of the revoked PMIS Regulations, with or without a MediShield Component;
Definition
“integrated shield plan” means a medisave-approved plan that comprises a MediShield Life Component and additional private insurance coverage;
Definition
“life support home care” means the provision of —
any of the following medical equipment for use by a patient in the patient’s place of residence, for the purposes of life support, and any ancillary medical care or service relating to the use of the equipment:
a bi-level positive airway pressure machine;
a continuous positive airway pressure machine;
a cough assist machine;
a feeding pump;
an invasive ventilator;
an oxygen concentrator;
an oxygen cylinder;
a pulse oximeter;
a suction machine; or
medical care or service to a patient in the patient’s place of residence, for the purposes of life support, where the patient —
has had a tracheostomy procedure;
has a stoma;
requires total parenteral nutrition;
requires a feeding tube; or
requires urine catherisation;
Definition
“living donor organ transplant” has the same meaning as in the Human Organ Transplant Act 1987;
Definition
“long term parenteral nutrition” means parenteral nutrition provided by an approved medical institution to a patient with a condition specified by the Minister on the website at https://www.moh.gov.sg;
Definition
“medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997 or a dentist registered under the Dental Registration Act 1999;
Definition
“medisave-approved plan” has the same meaning as in the MediShield Life Scheme (Private Medical Insurance Scheme) Regulations 2015 (G.N. No. S 623/2015);
Definition
“MediShield Component”, in relation to a person insured under an integrated medical insurance plan, means the person’s insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme which formed part of the person’s integrated medical insurance plan;
Definition
“MediShield Life Component” means insurance cover provided by the Scheme which forms part of an integrated shield plan;
Definition
“MediShield Life cover” means insurance cover under the Scheme;
Definition
“MIC@Home programme” means a health programme known by that name or known as the Mobile Inpatient Care@Home programme;
Definition
“MIC@Home treatment” means any medical treatment or services received under the MIC@Home programme;
Definition
“multiple neoplasms” means 2 or more neoplasms that —
arise from different sites;
are of a different histology or morphology group; or
arise from different sites and are of a different histology or morphology group;
Definition
“negative pressure wound therapy” means the use of vacuum dressing to promote wound healing;
Definition
“nursing home” means an approved medical institution that holds a valid nursing home service licence under the Healthcare Services Act 2020;
Definition
“organ transplantation costs” means —
any costs arising in relation or incidental to the removal of any organ from a non-living organ donor for organ transplant and includes the costs of —
the donor’s extended stay, before the donor’s death, in a hospital as necessitated by the donation of the organ;
any surgical operation to remove the organ from the donor’s body;
any pre-harvesting laboratory test and investigation;
any counselling provided to the donor’s family in connection with the donation of the organ;
the storage and transport of the organ; and
such other procedures as the Minister may approve; or
any costs that are reasonably or directly attributable to the removal of any specified organ from a living organ donor for organ transplant and includes the costs of —
the donor’s stay in a hospital as necessitated by the donation of the specified organ until the donor is discharged;
any surgical operation to remove the specified organ from the donor’s body;
the storage and transport of the specified organ; and
such other procedures as the Minister may approve,but does not include —
any costs arising in relation or incidental to complications suffered by the donor due to the donation of the specified organ after the donor’s discharge from the hospital under sub‑paragraph (i);
any pre-harvesting laboratory test and investigation; and
any counselling provided to the donor’s family in connection with the donation of the specified organ;
Definition
“outpatient” means a patient other than —
an in-patient; (b)a patient receiving day surgical treatment; or (c)a patient receiving MIC@Home treatment;
Definition
“paediatric patient”, in relation to life support home care, means —
a patient who is below 19 years of age; or
a patient who is of 19 years of age and above and —
started receiving life support home care from National University Hospital (Singapore) Pte Ltd or KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital Pte. Ltd. before the patient attained 19 years of age and has not stopped receiving life support home care since;
does not receive any outpatient medical treatment under the home ventilation and respiratory support programme; and
does not receive any long term parenteral nutrition;
Definition
“parenteral antibiotics therapy” means the administration of any subsidised antibiotic through injection or infusion;
Definition
“pasteurised donated human milk” means human breast milk that has been pasteurised and is provided by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital Pte. Ltd. as part of any medical treatment for a child below one year of age;
Definition
“policy year” means —
in relation to any insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme in Division 2 of Part II of the revoked MediShield Regulations for a period referred to in regulation 9(1)(ca)(i), (2)(a) or (3)(a) of those Regulations, that period;
in relation to any other insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme, a period of 12 months from the date of the commencement or renewal of that insurance cover; or
in relation to a person’s integrated medical insurance plan (including any MediShield Component of that plan), a period of 12 months from the date of the commencement or renewal of that plan;
Definition
“pre-existing MediShield cover” means insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme in force immediately before 1 November 2015 which is replaced by MediShield Life cover under regulation 19(1);
Definition
“premium payable” excludes any Government subsidies paid towards the amount of premium determined under regulation 8;
Definition
“private hospital” means a provider of an acute hospital service within the meaning of the Healthcare Services Act 2020 that —
holds a valid acute hospital service licence under that Act; and
is not a restructured hospital;
Definition
“radiosurgery treatment” means the treatment of neurosurgical or neurological disorders using any of the following:
gamma knife technology;
linear accelerator technology;
proton beam therapy for a Category 4 clinical indication listed in the Approved Indications for PBT;
externally generated ionising radiation delivered using —
a rigidly attached stereotactic guiding device or other immobilisation technology; or
a stereotactic image‑guidance system,but excludes stereotactic radiotherapy;
Definition
“radiotherapy treatment” means the treatment of any malignant disease or certain benign conditions with ionising radiation delivered externally or internally by sealed or unsealed radionuclides and irradiating apparatus;
Definition
“repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation” means a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure using magnetic pulses delivered through an electromagnetic coil placed against a patient’s scalp;
Definition
“restructured hospital” means any of the following providers of an acute hospital service within the meaning of the Healthcare Services Act 2020:
Alexandra Health Pte. Ltd.;
Alexandra Hospital;
Changi General Hospital Pte Ltd;
Institute of Mental Health;
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital Pte. Ltd.;
National Heart Centre of Singapore Pte Ltd;
National University Health Services Group Pte. Ltd.;
National University Hospital (Singapore) Pte Ltd;
Sengkang General Hospital Pte Ltd;
Singapore General Hospital Pte Ltd;
Tan Tock Seng Hospital Pte Ltd;
WoodlandsHealth Pte. Ltd.;
Definition
“revoked MediShield Regulations” means the Central Provident Fund (MediShield Scheme) Regulations (Cap. 36, Rg 20) as in force immediately before 1 November 2015;
Definition
“revoked PMIS Regulations” means the Central Provident Fund (Private Medical Insurance Scheme) Regulations (Cap. 36, Rg 26) as in force immediately before 1 November 2015;
Definition
“specified organ” has the same meaning as in the Human Organ Transplant Act 1987;
Definition
“subsidised antibiotic” means an antibiotic in the dosage form and strength listed on the List of Subsidised Drugs published on the website of the Ministry of Health at https://www.moh.gov.sg/managing-expenses/schemes-and-subsidies/list-of-subsidised-drugs;
Definition
“treatment of neoplasms” means the treatment of malignant neoplasms, certain benign neoplasms and neoplasms of uncertain behaviour.