Precision medicine therapies to be covered under MediShield Life

Law mooted to govern use of genetic test data, including for insurance, employment

- Zhaki Abdullah

Precision medicine therapies will be covered under MediShield Life as part of ongoing measures to keep such treatments affordable for Singaporeans, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Oct 10.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is also working on new legislation to govern the use of genetic and genomic test data, including the discriminatory use of genetic information in insurance and employment.

The twin measures are key to countering escalating healthcare costs and mitigating the ethical risks of new technologies, which Mr Ong said could be a "double-edged sword".

Healthcare is on the verge of a historic technological breakthrough, he added.

"The unprecedented availability of data can fundamentally transform healthcare," Mr Ong said at the opening ceremony of the 22nd Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress, organised by the National Healthcare Group.

"We are seeing a convergence of three very powerful scientific and policy forces.

"What are they? No. 1, genomics. No. 2, AI, or artificial intelligence. And No. 3, a focus on preventive care.