Singapore will continue provide existing gender dysphoria care to children and teenagers while new review panels are established, as the government tightens regulations and introduces more cautious treatment protocols for minors with gender dysphoria.
Singapore will keep treating children and teenagers already receiving care for gender dysphoria while new review panels are put in place, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in parliament on August 5, signalling that the government wants a managed transition rather than an abrupt break in treatment. According to Ong, existing patients should remain with their current clinicians until the new process is ready, to reduce the risk of harm from stopping care suddenly.
The move follows guidance issued on May 5 that makes psychological support the first required step for young people with gender dysphoria, the distress caused when a person’s gender identity does not match their sex at birth. Puberty blockers are no longer permitted under the new rules, and any further treatment must be considered by a multidisciplinary team. According to the Health Ministry, hormonal and surgical interventions are barred for those under 18, while 18- to 20-year-olds may access them only in exceptional cases and with both parents’ consent plus approval from a review panel.
Ong said the government is working with public hospitals and private providers to map out treatment pathways for current patients under the new framework. He said the review panels will include the psychologist, counsellor and social worker already involved in a patient’s care, together with independent specialists such as a psychiatrist, endocrinologist or paediatrician and, where relevant, a surgeon. One non-treating medical specialist will also sit on each panel. “When ready, the panels will assess patients on an individual basis and a careful decision will be made on whether to continue or adjust their treatment plan,” Ong said.
The health minister defended the tighter approach as a precautionary response to a complex condition in which, he said, the consequences of both missed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment can be severe. He said Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health has diagnosed an average of about 65 patients under 18 a year from 2021 to 2025, though the ministry does not know the full number of cases because some people seek private care and gender dysphoria is not notifiable. Ong also said the policy was shaped by multidisciplinary workgroups, expert consensus and independent reviews, and that it is aligned with the National Health Service England’s 2024 position and similar reassessments in several other countries.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
