Ong Ye Kung assures current standards for telemedicine still valid following MaNaDr incident

Despite the recent MaNaDr incident, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung reassured Parliament on 11 November that the current requirements and standards for telemedicine remain valid and effective.

Last month, MOH issued a notice to MaNaDr Clinic, intending to revoke its license to provide all outpatient medical services, including teleconsultations. Additionally, 41 of the clinic's doctors were referred to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for alleged professional misconduct.

These actions followed concerns over short teleconsultations, repeated issuance of medical certificates (MCs), and poor documentation practices.

In response to concerns about whether the ethical guidelines should be updated for telemedicine, Mr Ong stated that the current guidelines remain applicable.

He emphasized that medical practitioners must adhere to the Singapore Medical Council’s Ethical Code, ensuring they obtain sufficient patient information, conduct proper assessments, and justify any medical care or prescriptions.

The Minister further clarified that patients seeking an MC at polyclinics are still required to visit in person.

While acknowledging that regulatory frameworks cannot completely eliminate offences, he stressed their role in swiftly correcting issues, particularly with new technologies and business models.

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