Last updated
Singapore licenses clinics under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA), run by the Ministry of Health. A GP or specialist clinic needs an Outpatient Medical Service licence. It costs S$360 per mode of service delivery on a standard 2-year licence, and the licensing site quotes 30 working days from submission to approval. Checked .
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide. It is not MOH, ACRA or a medical adviser, and providers may pay us for requests that come from our forms. This page covers the company and licence steps only.
What does a clinic licence cover?
MOH describes Outpatient Medical Service as examining or assessing patients, diagnosing, treating, performing clinical or invasive procedures, giving medical care and running diagnostic tests or ultrasound imaging. If your business does any of that for outpatients, you need the licence.
Each licence names a mode of service delivery: permanent premises, temporary premises, conveyance (such as a medical vehicle) or remote delivery. A clinic with a fixed address uses the permanent premises mode.
How much does the licence cost?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Medical Service licence, one mode | S$360 |
| Outpatient Dental Service licence, one mode | S$360 |
| Application fee per service licence | S$100, non-refundable |
| Permanent premises plus conveyance | S$720 |
| Late renewal, within 2 months of expiry | 20% of the full licence fee |
Fees are based on a standard 2-year licence. Permanent premises combined with remote or temporary premises delivery can stay at S$360 under the bundle. Specified services, such as endoscopy or liposuction, need extra approval and a separate fee that depends on whether the service is simple or complex. The amounts for those are in the Healthcare Services (Fees) Regulations, which this guide did not verify, so no figure is quoted.
Who must lead the clinic clinically?
Outpatient Medical Service needs a Clinical Governance Officer (CGO). MOH says the CGO must:
- Live in Singapore while appointed.
- Hold a valid SMC practising certificate.
- Be a registered family physician or specialist, or have 5 or more years of full-time practice in approved healthcare settings.
- Complete telemedicine training if the clinic offers remote services.
- Have no fraud convictions or healthcare registration suspension, and have mental capacity.
This is the point where a doctor-founder and an investor-founder need to agree who holds which role.
How do you apply?
- Register the company with ACRA. See company registration and private limited company.
- Secure the premises and a registered address. See registered address.
- Log in to the Healthcare Application and Licensing Portal (HALP) with SingPass or CorpPass.
- Select the service, the mode of service delivery and any specified services, add the details and documents, and pay the fees.
- Complete the self-assessment checklist.
- Receive the inspection date, then the status email once all licensing requirements are met.
- Download the e-licence from HALP.
MOH says approval takes 30 working days if all requirements are met. It asks for applications at least 2 months before you plan to provide the service. Renewals are accepted from 6 months before the licence ends.
What changes must you notify?
| Change | Notice MOH asks for |
|---|---|
| New premises | 2 months before service starts |
| Removing premises | 1 month before you stop |
| Address change | 2 months before service at the new address |
| Other amendments | 10 calendar days |
Which structure fits a clinic?
A private limited company is the common choice when several doctors or investors share the practice. A sole practitioner may start in a simpler form. The licensee is the entity, so make the structure decision before you apply, not after. Read the structure comparison on private limited company.
Can a foreign doctor run the clinic?
The CGO must live in Singapore and hold an SMC practising certificate. A foreign doctor needs a valid pass to work here as well. See Employment Pass. This guide does not cover SMC registration rules, so check them with SMC.
What does the company side cost?
ACRA charges S$15 for the name and S$300 to register a company, S$315 together. Fit-out, equipment, drug supply and insurance are your own costs. Hiring nurses and admin staff brings CPF duties, which are explained under CPF for employers.
Which SSIC code fits a clinic?
You choose the code on Bizfile. The MOH and ACRA pages read here do not name one for clinics, so none is listed. See the SSIC code page for how to search.
Where does a provider help?
A provider can register the company, supply the address and open the bank file, so the licensee entity exists before you go to HALP. The HCSA application, CGO appointment and inspection remain with you. Send the quote form and we pass your request to suitable providers.
Sources
- HCSA, overview of licensing fees: https://www.hcsa.gov.sg/about-us/3-overview-of-licensing-fees/ (fees, bundles, late renewal)
- HCSA, how to apply: https://www.hcsa.gov.sg/apply-for-a-licence/how-to-apply/ (HALP steps, 30 working days, notice periods)
- HCSA, Outpatient Medical Service: https://www.hcsa.gov.sg/outpatient-services/outpatient-medical-service/ (scope, CGO rules, specified services)
