Teleconsultations at a Singapore Clinic: Licence and IT Setup

Do you need a licence for teleconsultation in Singapore?

Yes. HCSA licenses healthcare providers by service and by mode of service delivery. MOH's overview of HCSA lists four modes: permanent premises, temporary premises, conveyance and remote. Licensees must seek MOH's approval for each mode they use, and teleconsultation falls under remote.

HCSA's page on the Outpatient Medical Service shows remote as an allowed mode, and its fee table lists S$360 for a stand-alone mode, with bundles such as clinic plus house calls plus teleconsultations also at S$360. MOH also notes that a doctor who offers teleconsultations in a personal capacity, outside the clinic, needs their own licence.

What MOH's licence conditions for remote provision require

MOH's Licence Conditions for Remote Provision of Outpatient Medical Service (version 2.0, 10 October 2025) apply on top of the Outpatient Medical Service Regulations 2023. The main points for a clinic:

• Written protocols so every doctor follows HCSA rules and the SMC Ethical Code when consulting remotely.
• Triage to decide whether a patient is suitable for remote care, done under the clinic's own guidelines by a healthcare professional or other approved staff, supervised by a doctor if not done by one. Non-doctors must not diagnose, treat, advise or issue MCs.
• Doctor chooses the channel: for suitable patients, a doctor decides the most appropriate method of remote communication.
• Two-way communication: patients must be able to talk to the healthcare professional until the consult is complete. MOH says self-service, text-only questionnaires without two-way contact are not enough.
• Proper assessment before any treatment, prescription or medical certificate.
• MC monitoring: repeated MCs to one patient over a short period must be escalated to the Clinical Governance Officer, reviewed and documented.

HCSA's Outpatient Medical Service page also says that for the remote mode, the Clinical Governance Officer must have completed the telemedicine e-training course specified by MOH.

Professional standards: the SMC code on telemedicine

Section A6 of the SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (2016 edition) applies to every doctor doing teleconsultations. In plain terms:

In practice that means a clear consent statement before the first video consult, and a way to convert to an in-person visit when the doctor decides remote care is not suitable.

Choosing a video platform for teleconsultations

Consumer video calls are easy, but a clinic needs control over accounts, recordings and data. Our Zoom vs Teams vs Google Meet comparison covers the general features; for clinics, focus on these points.

Many clinic management systems and telehealth platforms build video, booking and payment into one flow. That is often simpler than stitching together separate tools, as long as the vendor's data terms and access controls are clear.

The teleconsultation workflow: booking, ID checks, payment and records

A reliable flow keeps doctors on clinical work and staff on admin.

1. 1

   Online booking with triage questions

   Patients book a slot and answer suitability questions set by your clinic guidelines. Staff or a doctor review them before confirming. Our online booking guide compares tools.

2. 2

   Verify identity at the start of the call

   Confirm the patient's identity against your records at the start of each consult and record that you did. Collect full NRIC only where needed for clinical or legal purposes, as PDPC guidance requires.

3. 3

   Take payment before the consult

   Prepayment by card or PayNow avoids chasing unpaid fees. Make refund rules for converted or cancelled consults clear at booking.

4. 4

   Consult with two-way communication

   Video by default, with voice as a fallback if the doctor decides it is suitable. Record consent to telemedicine in the notes.

5. 5

   Document as for an in-person visit

   Notes, prescriptions, MCs and referrals go into the clinic system, not email or chat.

6. 6

   Deliver medication and follow up

   Arrange collection or delivery, and give patients a way to reach the clinic until the episode is complete.

For the advertising side of promoting your new service, see our guide to clinic website advertising rules.

Patient data security for telemedicine

Teleconsultation moves patient data across more devices and accounts. MOH's Cybersecurity and Data Security Essentials apply to HCSA licensees; our clinic cybersecurity guide explains the requirements and timelines.

• MFA on email, the clinic system and the video platform for every staff account.
• Clinic-managed laptops or devices for doctors consulting from home, with encryption and screen locks.
• No patient details, photos or results sent through personal messaging apps.
• Remove access the same day when a locum or staff member leaves.
• A written process for reporting a suspected data incident.

Do it yourself or get help?

The licensing steps, protocols and clinical guidelines are yours to own as the licensee. The IT side, from booking and payment to accounts and devices, is where outside help saves time.

Our Online Booking System (S$390, paid upfront) sets up booking with deposits and reminders. Online Payment Setup (S$290) adds PayNow and cards. Microsoft 365 / Google Security Lockdown (S$590) secures staff accounts with MFA and access controls. We do not advise on clinical or licensing decisions.