QUALIFICATIONS OF THOSE WHO ADVERTISE THEIR PROVISION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2969 

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 7 AUGUST 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms He Ting Ru

MP for Sengkang GRC

Question No. 6424

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Government has data on the percentage of individuals advertising their psychological services who hold qualifications that (i) meet and (ii) do not meet the Singapore Register of Psychologists’ (SRP’s) registration standards; (b) if so, what are the most common types of qualifications claimed by those who fail the standards; (c) whether any assessment has been conducted on the potential public health impact in allowing unregulated use of the title “psychologist”; and (d) whether the Ministry will make SRP registration mandatory.

Answer

1     In general, the Ministry of Health (MOH) restricts the advertising of healthcare services, through the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA), to ensure transparency, prevent excessive consumption of healthcare services and protect consumers from being misled by advertisements. This is regardless of whether the professional is registered with the professional associations or not. MOH also does not collect data on individuals advertising psychology or other healthcare services.

2     MOH is currently working with agencies, service providers and professional associations such as the Singapore Psychological Society, to update the risk assessment and review the need to regulate psychologists to better ensure the safety of psychological practices in Singapore.