Forum: Balancing privacy with clinical care needs in STI testing

We refer to Ms Fikri Alkhatib’s letter “Community-based anonymous STI testing will improve access to sexual healthcare” (March 4).

We agree with the writer’s suggestion. Indeed, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing is widely accessible at general practitioner clinics, polyclinics, the Department of STI Control clinic, and hospitals, with subsidies available at public healthcare institutions. To encourage regular testing, HIV self-testing kits have been made available at selected retail pharmacies since January 2025.

Recognising that stigma remains an issue, with the exception of HIV, personal identifiers are not required when healthcare providers notify the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) for STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia – these STI notifications are therefore effectively anonymous.

That said, healthcare providers do maintain records of patients, including those who contracted STIs.

Healthcare providers provide additional safeguards for such sensitive health information to ensure confidentiality.

Individuals should take steps to protect themselves and their partners from STIs. CDA also encourages individuals to take personal responsibility for their health and is strengthening community outreach through partnerships, dialogues and peer support. 

Through these efforts, we hope to reduce the stigma of coming forward to undergo testing, and engender a supportive environment for individuals living with or at risk of HIV and STIs.

Lim Poh Lian (Associate Professor)
Group Director of Communicable Diseases Programmes
Communicable Diseases Agency