• Over 20 doctors and dentists found practicing without valid licenses in Singapore

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has revealed that between 2023 and 2025, more than 20 doctors and dentists were found practicing either without proper registration or after their licenses had expired.

The ministry confirmed that no patients were harmed in any of the reported cases.

MOH explained that all of the practitioners had formal medical training, but their licenses were invalid, mostly due to administrative oversights rather than professional incompetence. Some had unknowingly continued practicing after their certification had expired.

In response, the ministry issued a circular to all licensed healthcare providers under the Healthcare Services Act and its regulations, including general practitioners and dental clinics, emphasizing the need for strict verification of credentials before allowing any practitioner to provide medical or dental services, whether in person or remotely.

Adjunct Professor Raymond Chua, MOH’s Deputy Director-General for Health Regulation, highlighted the importance of this verification, especially for organizations employing locum doctors or dentists. He stressed that failing to check licenses properly could constitute a violation warranting investigation and legal action.

The ministry stated that warnings had been issued to 19 of the practitioners after investigations, with the remaining cases still under review. Most cases were identified through periodic checks conducted by the Singapore Medical Council and Singapore Dental Council.

MOH noted that previous cases have involved unqualified individuals performing medical procedures, but these differed in nature from the current cases. For example, in 2018, an unqualified person was allowed to administer Botox injections during a training course, resulting in a two-month jail sentence, while the supervising doctor was fined.

Doctors and dentists practicing without official registration or a valid license can face penalties under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act, including fines, imprisonment, or both.

The ministry also emphasized that registration and license renewal requirements are strict, including mandatory continuing professional education through academic events, publishing research papers, or online courses.

Other healthcare professionals—including nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, optometrists, and opticians—must also meet similar registration and licensing requirements, and no violations were reported among these groups during the same period.