Singapore to continue chiropractic self-regulation
Singapore will continue to allow chiropractic services to be self-regulated through professional associations, with the Ministry of Health determining that the current risk of harm to patients is not sufficiently high to warrant statutory registration. The ministry considers factors including the nature and scale of practice, patient awareness, and evidence of adverse outcomes when determining whether a profession requires statutory regulation. The decision follows parliamentary questions about reports of individuals allegedly misrepresenting themselves as chiropractors, concerns about treatment quality and prepaid treatment packages, and complaints involving potential patient harm. Under the current framework, professional associations establish standards for their members, while advertising and consumer protection laws and civil remedies provide additional safeguards. The Ministry of Health said it will continue monitoring complaints and adverse outcomes and would reconsider stronger regulation if evidence of harm increases or existing safeguards prove inadequate.