MOH to tighten rules on MCs after feedback on docs issuing them excessively or improperly

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MCs were allegedly given for non-medical reasons, or issued without proper clinical assessments.

Don’t feel like going to work or school? Just do a teleconsultation and get a medical chit to go on sick leave for the day.

“ must be made in the context of an existing patient-doctor relationship and is premised on the duty of care the doctor owes the patient arising from this patient-doctor relationship,” according to the circular seen by The Straits Times. It also highlighted another allegation that MCs were repeatedly issued to the same patients without referring them for physical consultations for further assessments or follow-up to check if they were indeed unwell. MOH called this “malingering and abusing medical leave privileges”.

The circular quoted the Singapore Medical Council’s Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, which state that “medical certificates must be issued to patients only on proper medical grounds arrived at through good clinical assessment”. Teleconsultation services are provided by both the public and private sectors. There are also several companies that specialise in online consultations, with charges starting from as low as $8 for a consultation without medication. These services have been regulated under the Healthcare Services Act since June 26, 2023.

Among the proposed amendments is a requirement that every MC issued for a patient must include the name and medical registration number of the issuing medical practitioner.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

 

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