Domestic Helper Medical Check-Up Singapore 2026: PEME, 6ME, and What If Results Are Abnormal

TL;DR: A domestic helper medical check-up in Singapore means two exams: the entry medical (PEME) within 2 weeks of arrival, then the 6-monthly exam (6ME) at MOM-accredited clinics. Pregnancy and VDRL run every visit; HIV every 2 years. Employers pay S$28 to S$90.

Every Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) in Singapore goes through two distinct medical examinations during her employment: the entry medical (PEME) on arrival, and the 6-Monthly Medical Examination (6ME) for as long as she works here. They sound similar, but they are run under different MOM rules, at different types of clinics, and they test for different things on different schedules.

This is the part most clinic websites get wrong. They list every possible test as if it happens every six months. It does not. As a MOM-licensed employment agency (EA Licence 24C2628), we deal with PEME bookings, 6ME deadlines, and abnormal-result fallout every week. Here is the regulatory reality for 2026, including the new MMR / measles rule effective 1 September 2025.

1. The two medical exams every helper in Singapore must take

Before diving into individual exams, here is the side-by-side that almost every employer comes looking for:

Both are non-negotiable. Skip either, and the Work Permit becomes invalid. The 6ME schedule in particular is the one that most experienced employers underestimate, because the panel of tests changes over time.

2. The entry medical exam (PEME): what's tested and when

The PEME is the medical clearance that converts your helper's In-Principle Approval (IPA) into a valid Work Permit. It must be done within 2 weeks of her arrival in Singapore. Unlike the 6ME, the PEME can be performed by any Singapore-registered doctor. You are not restricted to MOM-accredited 6ME clinics. Most employers go through their agency's panel doctor for convenience, but a regular GP works.

The PEME panel covers:

• Chest X-ray (tuberculosis screening)
• HIV serology
• Syphilis (VDRL)
• Malaria screening
• General fitness-to-work assessment

Your helper brings the official MOM medical examination form to the clinic. The clinic completes it, you submit it to MOM, and the WP is issued. Typical cost is S$60-S$90. For employers booking through us via maid placement, the PEME slot is scheduled the moment her flight lands. Leaving it to week two is a common cause of WP-issuance delay. The same rule applies to transfer hires: even if she has been in Singapore before, a new PEME is required under the new employer.

Full MOM guidance: mom.gov.sg: Medical examination.

3. The 6-Monthly Medical Examination (6ME): how it actually works in 2026

Once your helper holds a valid Work Permit, MOM requires a 6ME every 6 months, calculated from her last exam date. The big difference from the PEME: the 6ME must be done at a MOM-accredited 6ME clinic. Results are no longer paper-submitted. The clinic uploads them directly through the MOM Medical Examination (ME) Portal. You will not receive a form to bring back.

Common accredited providers include ATA Medical, Mediway, Minmed, Keystone Medical, Doctor Anywhere, Beacon, Regis, Phoenix, Truecare, and Kingston, among others. Pricing varies but the differences are small. Convenience and queue times matter more than dollar gaps.

Two important exceptions employers often miss:

• Helpers aged 50 and above are exempt from the 6-monthly schedule. They only need the exam at Work Permit renewal.
• Postponement is available via MOM if your helper is on overseas leave when the 6ME is due. Apply through the ME Portal before the deadline, not after.

MOM reference: Six-monthly medical examination.

4. What's actually in the 6ME panel: pregnancy + VDRL every 6 months, HIV every 2 years, chest X-ray after 2 years

Here is the part the clinic marketing pages quietly omit. The 6ME is stratified. Not every test happens every visit. Knowing this in advance prevents both bill shock and over-testing.

• Pregnancy test (urine HCG): every 6 months. The non-negotiable core test.
• VDRL (syphilis): every 6 months. Also a core test on each visit.
• HIV serology (ELISA): every 2 years. Not every 6 months. This is the article's most common misconception.
• Chest X-ray (TB): once, after 2 years of stay. One-off, not recurring.
• BMI / weight check and visual abuse screening: every 6 months. The doctor records weight changes and checks for signs of physical abuse, a welfare measure.
• MMR / measles serology: at WP issuance/renewal only, and only if the new measles rule applies to your household (see section 5).

This stratified panel is why 6ME costs vary so widely. Your helper's second-year visit (with HIV and chest X-ray) will be noticeably more expensive than her first-year visits.

5. The 2025 MMR / measles rule: does it apply to your household?

Effective 1 September 2025, MOM requires confirmed measles immunity for MDWs working in households with children under 7 who are not fully measles-vaccinated. The WP will not be issued or renewed until immunity is established.

The rule applies to your household if:

• You have one or more children below 7 years old, AND
• That child has not completed the standard MMR vaccination schedule

If the rule applies and your helper's serology shows she lacks immunity, you (the employer) must arrange two doses of MMR vaccination at your own cost. Pricing is roughly S$70-S$200 in-clinic per full course, or up to S$240+ for at-home administration. Households without young children, or with fully vaccinated children, are not affected.

6. Cost breakdown: what employers really pay in 2026

Plan for a slightly higher bill once at the 2-year mark. That visit usually combines HIV and the one-off chest X-ray together. Some employers pay the helper a reimbursement at month-end; others let the clinic bill them directly. Either way, employers are legally responsible for the cost.

7. What happens if results are abnormal: pregnancy, TB, HIV, syphilis

Abnormal results are uncommon but emotionally and operationally serious. The MOM-mandated outcomes:

• Positive pregnancy: Work Permit is cancelled and the helper is repatriated. She is permanently barred from working in Singapore as a WP holder, unless she later marries a Singapore citizen or PR with prior MOM approval.
• Positive TB chest X-ray: Referred to the TB Control Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. WP status depends on infectiousness and treatment progress. Outright cancellation is not automatic.
• Positive HIV: Work Permit is cancelled and the helper is repatriated.
• Positive syphilis (VDRL): WP is cancelled and the helper is repatriated, even though syphilis is medically treatable. MOM's rule is uniform here.
• Failed measles immunity: Not a cancellation event. Employer arranges MMR at own cost.

If an abnormal result leads to hospitalisation rather than direct repatriation (for example, a positive TB case admitted to TTSH) your FDW medical insurance is the policy that responds. The minimum S$60,000 hospitalisation cover required under MOM is exactly for these scenarios. See our maid insurance comparison for which insurers pay out faster on TB and infectious-disease admissions, and our claims process guide for the documentation flow.

8. Missed the 6ME? Here's what to do immediately

If the 6ME deadline has already passed, do not wait:

1. Book the earliest available 6ME slot at an accredited clinic, same week if possible.
2. Log into the ME Portal and check whether MOM has issued any notice on the WP. A late exam does not automatically void the permit, but repeated lateness does.
3. Do not attempt to renew the Work Permit until the overdue 6ME is cleared. The system will reject it. See our WP renewal guide for sequencing.

The headline penalty is Work Permit revocation. MOM may also impose administrative fines, and a pattern of non-compliance affects your future hiring eligibility under the employer eligibility framework. Catch a missed 6ME within days, not weeks, and most cases resolve cleanly.

If you need help scheduling a PEME for a new arrival, or you are unsure when your current helper's next 6ME falls due, speak to our placement team. We track these deadlines for every active employer on our books.