"HSA is adopting a forward-looking 5P Strategy to tackle challenges"

Adjunct Professor (Dr) Raymond Chua, who stepped into his role as CEO of Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in December 2024, outlines the agency's current priorities in positioning Singapore as a regional hub for biotech and medtech innovation.

- Ayesha Siddiqui

As one of the world's leading regulatory bodies, HSA is balancing rigorous safety oversight with the need to support emerging technologies like cell, tissue and gene therapy products (CTGTP) and AI-driven medical tools. He also discusses HSA's collaboration with international regulators to align standards and enable faster, cross-border access to new health technologies, and how the agency is preparing to meet the biggest regulatory challenges of the next five years. Edited excerpts:

Presently, what are HSA's key priorities that align with positioning Singapore as a regional hub for biotech and medtech innovation?

We see ourselves as more than just a regulator. We are an enabler of innovation, a partner in progress. Science and technology have always been central to Singapore's growth story, and our role is to make sure that regulatory frameworks keep pace with the exciting developments in biotech and medtech.

In this fast-moving era — marked by breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, regenerative therapies, and digital health — we're focused on keeping our regulatory system robust, efficient, and yet agile. Our key priority is to ensure that Singapore remains not just a safe harbour for health products, but a launchpad for innovation.

We are working closely with our economic agencies, industry partners and healthcare institutions to build an innovative access framework. This will allow for earlier, deeper engagement with the industry and healthcare institutions, from the clinical trial stage right through to market entry. The objective is clear: accelerate access to promising health products and new technologies while upholding high standards of safety and quality.