Regulations we monitor
These are the primary sources we read, verbatim, against every client build. Blog posts and agency summaries (including this page) do not substitute for the source itself — we link each source below so the claims on this page are always one click from the original text.
| Source | Scope | Current as of |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services Act 2020 sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/HSA2020 |
Primary statute. Licensing framework, section 31 advertising offences, section 31B protection of the "Dr" title. | In force from 3 Jan 2022 |
| HCS (Advertisement) Regulations 2021 sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/HSA2020-S1033-2021 |
Specific rules on content, media, testimonials, before-and-after, pricing, promotions, interviews, hyperlinks. | In force 3 Jan 2022 |
| MOH HCS (Advertisement) FAQ hcsa.gov.sg/about-us/2-summary-of-requirements |
Authoritative interpretive layer. Q14 (before-and-after), Q15 (laudatory terms + Appendix A), Q35–Q42 (testimonials), Nov 2024 additions on MCs and teleconsultation. | Updated 22 Nov 2024 |
| SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines smc.gov.sg |
Doctor conduct. Section G2(7) is the direct source of the testimonial prohibition cited by MOH. | 2016 edition, under periodic review |
| SDC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines 2018 sdc.gov.sg |
Dentist and oral-health-therapist conduct. Section 5.4.6 adds website restrictions beyond HCSA (no glitz, no celebrity styling, no emotional framing). | In force 1 Jan 2019 |
| MOH Joint Circular on Telemedicine (Circular 87/2024) hcsa.gov.sg/licensable-healthcare-services |
Consolidated rules for telemedicine services and advertisements, including the Nov 2024 MC and duration-claim additions. | Updated 27 Oct 2025 |
| SDC Guidelines on Aesthetic Facial Procedures sdc.gov.sg Circulars |
Requirements for dentists offering facial aesthetic procedures (botox, fillers). Accreditation, premises, specialist-title restrictions. | In force 1 Nov 2021 |
How we review
Per-build (every client)
Every Dr. by Zelix site undergoes a pre-launch compliance review against the HCSA + the SMC or SDC framework applicable to the practitioner. Ryan Chua signs off on the final copy and visual content before the site goes live. No build launches without this sign-off.
Quarterly (scheduled)
Every 90 days we walk the full list above: check each primary source for updates, refresh our internal reference document, and apply any substantive changes to the review checklist. The "Last reviewed" timestamp at the top of this page updates each cycle.
Ad-hoc (continuous)
We subscribe to the MOH circulars page, SDC circulars feed, and the HCSA Summary of Requirements. Anything material is evaluated within 72 hours, rolled into the review checklist, and recorded in the change log below.
What our review catches
These are the concrete rules every Singapore-jurisdiction build is measured against. If the submitted content breaches any of them, we either rewrite with the client or strip the offending element before the first draft lands in their inbox.
- No patient testimonials on the doctor's own website, social media, or premises. HCS (Advertisement) Regulations 2021 Regulation 14 and SMC ECEG G2(7). Paid reviews and influencer content prohibited regardless of disclosure. Unsolicited reviews on third-party platforms stay there; we never reproduce them.
- No before-and-after or only-after imagery in advertising, even with disclaimers. HCSA Reg 14 and MOH FAQ Q14. Permitted only during in-person consultation.
- No laudatory language, regardless of truthfulness. MOH publishes a list of 70+ prohibited terms including "state-of-the-art", "cutting-edge", "premium", "trusted", "pioneering", "wealth of experience", "centre of excellence", "gold standard", "leading", "best".
- No comparative advertising, named or unnamed. An ad positioning the client against a "typical clinic" or "others" is a breach (Reg 5(1)(c)).
- No price comparisons, no "from $X", no "as low as", no discount language. Only exact final prices may be shown. Packages and referral programmes can exist, but cannot be advertised — patients are told at point of payment only (Reg 5(1)(g)).
- No medical certificate advertising (added Nov 2024). No "MC in 1 minute," "sick leave from the couch," "MC from $10."
- No teleconsultation duration claims (added Nov 2024). No "60-second consults" or equivalent — consultation duration varies per patient and any such claim is deemed misleading.
- No push-technology outbound (SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger) without documented prior written consent from each recipient. Relevant for respond.io workflows.
- "Dr" title restricted to SMC/SDC-registered practitioners under HCSA section 31B. PhDs, naturopaths, chiropractors, and TCM practitioners cannot use "Dr" in their Singapore advertising.
- Dental builds (additional SDC rules): no glitz, glamour, celebrity styling, or fashion-world associations in visuals (SDC 5.4.6). No fear-based or self-image-based emotional framing. No website sponsorship by pharma or commercial companies. No hyperlinks from the dental site to commercial companies or testimonials. Facial aesthetic procedures require SDC accreditation and cannot be advertised as a specialty.
Change log
What we've updated, when, and why. This is our public record of the review process in action.
Scope beyond Singapore
Singapore is our primary market and the focus of this page. We also review builds for doctors practising in Hong Kong (MCHK), Malaysia (MMC), Australia (AHPRA), New Zealand (MCNZ), the United Kingdom (GMC + CAP), and the United States (FTC endorsement guides + state boards). Each jurisdiction is reviewed against its own current framework during the per-build compliance pass.
We will publish per-jurisdiction compliance pages as this service grows. Message us directly for a reading of how your practice jurisdiction is handled.
This page is not legal advice
This page describes our internal methodology for monitoring Singapore healthcare-advertising regulations as applied to Dr. by Zelix builds. It is not, and does not substitute for, legal advice from a qualified lawyer or guidance from your professional body. Regulatory rules change, and you remain ultimately responsible for anything published under your name.
If you have a specific compliance question about your practice, speak with your medical council, the Singapore Dental Council, or independent legal counsel before relying on any statement on this page. If you want our reading of a specific line of copy, message us through the channels below and we will respond within one business day.
Questions about a specific line, specialty, or visual?
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