01 Apr 2015
MH 50:12/ 3-1
In January 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the finalization of the Enhanced Nursing Home Standards (ENHS) developed by an industry-led workgroup. Since the finalization, MOH and the Agency for integrated Care (AIC) have been working closely with nursing home operators to build up capabilities to meet the ENHS requirements through quality improvement programmers, as well as training and development courses. A Guide to the ENHS was also published in April 2014 to explain the requirements of the ENHS.
2 Based on the ENHS, a set of Licensing Terms and Conditions (LTCs) for nursing home was drafted. MOH also hosted a dialogue session with nursing home operator on 24 March 2015 to explain key elements and enforcement of the LTCs. A copy of the LTCs is enclosed with this letter.
3 The LTCs for nursing homes will take effect from 20 April 2015 but we will give a 1 year grace period for compliance. The LTCs will be enforced from 20 April 2016. The Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Division of MOH will be inspecting the nursing home based on this set of LTCs. MOH and AIC continue to work with nursing homes operators to meet the requirements therein.
4. Please contact MOH by email at elis@moh.gov.sg if you require further information of clarification.
PETER LEE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (LICENSING, INSPECTIONS & AUDIT)
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
for DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES
cc.
Dr Jason Cheah
Chief Executive Officer
Agency for Intergrated Care
Mr Ong Yunn Shing
Director, Ageing Planning Office / Aged Care Services
MOH
The full document (together with the licensing terms and conditions on nursing homes imposed under section 6(5) of the private hospitals and medical clinics act (cap 248) can be downloaded below:
Download [.PDF, 306KB]