Regulation of Psychologists under Allied Health Professions Act

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Health (a) whether psychologists are fully regulated under the Allied Health Professions Act; and (b) whether the Allied Health Professions Council has the power to investigate any complaint made against errant psychologists.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Currently, clinical psychologists are not registered under the Allied Health Professions Act. Hence, the Allied Health Professions Council does not have the power to investigate complaints against clinical psychologists.

However, the services provided by psychologists in hospitals will be subject to the clinical governance framework of the hospitals and existing healthcare legislations such as the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act. Our local degree programmes in psychology also ensure the supply of properly qualified psychologists.