Radiological Service

When is a Radiological Service licence needed?

You will require a Radiological Service licence if you:

a. Use ionising or non-ionising radiation (e.g., x-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI) to provide an assessment or diagnosis of a patient’s health or condition except as described below.

You will not require a Radiological Service licence if you:

a. Use dental cone beam computed tomography or periapical x-ray or orthopantomogram for dental treatment purposes as part of an Outpatient Dental Service licence.

b. Use point-of-care ultrasound on a patient, where the provision of ultrasound imaging is incidental to the provision of another licensable healthcare service (e.g., foetal ultrasound by a gynaecologist as part of an Outpatient Medical Service).

c. Use any irradiating apparatus as part of a Nuclear Medicine Service licence (e.g., provide PET-CT but not CT imaging services).

• Note: If you provide both CT and PET-CT imaging services, you must hold a Radiological Service licence and a Nuclear Medicine Service licence with approval for CT Imaging and Nuclear Medicine Imaging under the respective licences.

d. Use any imaging modality to perform image-guided procedures as part of an Ambulatory Surgical Centre Service licence (e.g., angioplasty).

e. Image individuals for non-clinical purposes (e.g., research purposes or epidemiology studies).

For the legal definition of a Radiological Service, please refer to the First Schedule of the Act.

Note: Although a Radiological Service licence may not be applicable for your service, your service may still be subject to regulation as another Licensable Healthcare Service under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA). Please refer to the list of Licensable Healthcare Services for more information.

Applicable Specified Services and Mode of Service Delivery

* There is no need to seek approval for these imaging modalities. However, licensees are still expected to notify MOH before the provision of such services.

Requirements to be a Clinical Governance Officer

An individual must be in good standing and fulfil all of the criteria below to be appointed as a Clinical Governance Officer (CGO).

1. For an individual to fulfil the requirements to be a CGO, he or she must:

a. Reside in Singapore during his or her appointment as a CGO

b. Be a –

• Fully registered medical practitioner with SMC and hold a valid practising certificate and registered as a specialist in diagnostic radiology, with at least 5 years of work; OR
• Fully registered dentist with the SDC if the radiological service is provided ONLY for dental purposes.

For further details on the qualifications, skills and competencies of a CGO, please refer to Section 6 of the Radiological Service Regulations.

2. For an individual to fulfil the suitability qualifications to be a CGO, he or she must not:

a. Have any of the following convictions, unless it is a spent conviction:

i. An offence involving fraud or dishonesty;

ii. An offence under the HCSA, the PHMCA or any applicable Acts listed in the Annex A of the Code of Practice;

iii. An offence specified in the Third Schedule to the Registration of Criminals Act; or

iv. Any other offence involving abuse, ill treatment, assault, or physical violence

b. Have a pending charge for an offence under 2a(iv)

c. Be an undischarged bankrupt

d. Have had his or her healthcare professional registration(s) under MOH cancelled, removed, or suspended

e. Have been a director or manager of a healthcare services provider that had its registration or licence suspended, cancelled, or revoked

f. Have had his or her accreditation or approval to participate in MOH-administered public schemes revoked or suspended

g. Lack capacity within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2008.

For further details on the suitability requirements for a Key Office Holder, please refer to the Code of Practice.