Allied Health Professions Act 2011

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for Health (a) when will the Allied Health Professions Act 2011 (AHPA) come into force and what are the reasons for the delay in the having the Act implemented; (b) what is the expected timeline for the registration of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists; and (c) whether there are plans to provide for the registration of the other allied health professionals as listed in the First Schedule of the AHPA and, if so, what is the expected timeline.

My Ministry plans to bring the Allied Health Professions Act into force in the second quarter of 2013. In the last 17 months, we have put in place key pieces of preparatory work to implement registration for the physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. These include finalising the subsidiary legislations required, ensuring that operating systems and processes are in place, and engaging the professionals and institutions to implement registration.

The subsidiary legislations were reviewed with inputs from the professions. The process took more time than expected due to the complexities of regulating multiple professions. Concerns were also raised on the readiness in some institutions to support the supervision of their new therapists. The implementation was deferred to accommodate the plans for ramping up services and arrangements were made to help institutions whose staff will require supervision.

The resources needed for registration of the professionals have now been put in place and we are in the process of formally appointing the Allied Health Professions Council.

We plan to progressively include other allied health professions after the first three, including diagnostic radiographers and psychologists.