Regulation of Educational and Behavioural Therapy Service Providers

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Health whether the Government will consider regulating providers of educational and behavioural therapy services under the Allied Health Professions Act 2011 to ensure that they are suitably trained and qualified to practice.

Currently, the Allied Health Professions Act provides for the registration of five allied health professions: Diagnostic Radiographers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Radiation Therapists and Speech Therapists.

Other professions who work in healthcare institutions, such as psychologists, including those who provide behavioural therapy services, have existing safeguards in place as they are subject to the clinical governance framework of the healthcare institutions and existing healthcare legislations, such as the Healthcare Services Act in healthcare settings.

In non-healthcare settings, such as the early intervention programmes funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, operators may employ therapists, psychologists and other professionals to provide therapy services. Where necessary, the funding agreements specify the minimum qualifications and training required, before staff can be deployed to provide such services.

We will continue to perform risk assessments of various allied health professions to consider if these professions will need to be registered.