Family medicine officially recognised as a medical specialty in Singapore

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has officially recognised Family Medicine as a medical speciality, as of today (Nov 1). MOH described the move as an important step in acknowledging the contributions of family physicians.

Family doctors who are already Fellows of the College of Family Physicians Singapore (CFPS) will be invited to apply for specialist certification in Family Medicine. According to MOH, more than 200 family doctors registered with the Ministry have obtained Fellowship in the CFPS. However, they will still be required to meet the relevant clinical practice standards before they can be certified as specialists in the field.

Under the new framework, family physicians who attain Fellowship in the College of General Practice before the 30th of next month will be eligible to apply for specialist certification before Nov 1 next year. Those who achieve Fellowship after the 30th of next month must submit their applications within six months of obtaining their Fellowship.

To further strengthen primary care and meet the healthcare needs of Singapore’s ageing population, MOH announced the introduction of an Advanced Family Medicine (AFM) course to be launched locally. The first intake is expected to commence in 2028.

The AFM course will serve as the qualification standard for Family Medicine specialist certification and registration in the Register of Specialists, aligning the discipline with other recognised medical specialities and ensuring that Singapore’s family physicians are equipped to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and patient-centred care for years to come.