- MOH plans to revoke MaNaDr Clinic’s licence due to inappropriate practices.
- 41 doctors face inquiries for possible professional misconduct.
- Teleconsultations lasting one minute or less raise patient safety concerns.
Singapore’s health ministry takes strong action against a clinic and its doctors for unethical practices.
MOH Acts Against MaNaDr Clinic
On 24 Oct 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) took a big step.
They plan to take away MaNaDr Clinic’s licence to operate.
This means the clinic may not be allowed to treat patients anymore.
MOH says the clinic can’t provide proper medical care to patients.
They found many problems with how the clinic was run.
Questionable Teleconsultation Practices
MOH’s investigation revealed some shocking facts.
Many teleconsultations at MaNaDr Clinic lasted only 1 minute or less.
Yet, doctors gave out prescriptions and Medical Certificates (MCs) after these short calls.
Some patients got many MCs in a short time.
This made MOH worry about the quality of care patients were getting.
| Issue | Concern |
|---|---|
| Short consultations | Not enough time to properly check patients |
| Many MCs given quickly | Possible misuse of medical leave |
| Poor documentation | Incomplete or inaccurate patient records |
Doctors Under Investigation
The problem isn’t just with the clinic.
MOH has reported 41 doctors to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).
These doctors might have done things they shouldn’t have.
13 of these doctors worked part-time at MaNaDr Clinic.
They did teleconsultations while working for public hospitals, which is not allowed.
Consequences for Doctors
Some doctors have already faced consequences for their actions.
Five doctors have left their jobs in public healthcare.
Seven doctors have been fired.
One doctor is being punished at work.
This shows how serious the situation is.
MOH’s Stance on Patient Safety
According to MOH, “MOH views these inappropriate practices and their potential impact on patient safety very seriously.”
This statement shows that MOH cares a lot about keeping patients safe.
They don’t want doctors or clinics to do anything that might harm patients.
MOH will keep checking other clinics to make sure they follow the rules.
What Happens Next?
MaNaDr Clinic has 14 days to explain their side of the story to MOH.
After that, MOH will decide if they will really take away the clinic’s licence.
Lessons for Patients
- Be careful when using online doctor services.
- Make sure your consultation is long enough for the doctor to understand your problem.
- Don’t ask for medical certificates if you’re not really sick.
- If you’re worried about a doctor’s care, you can report it to MOH.
Do you think teleconsultations should be more strictly regulated to ensure patient safety?
