MOH said that by providing consultations without the use of any audio or video methods, Medstar may have breached a regulation that necessitates “two-way interactive audiovisual communications” when providing outpatient medical services remotely to first-time patients.
The PocketCare website was also found to have featured claims that patients could “Get Your MC or Get a Refund”, said MOH, adding that it is investigation whether the statement infringes any regulations.
A check by CNA at about 5pm on Friday showed that the PocketCare website was down, with a message stating that it was “undergoing maintenance and will be back soon”.
The Health Ministry has issued a notice to Medstar, stating Director-General of Health Kenneth Mak’s intention to take regulatory action, including a three-month suspension of its telemedicine services and the need to rectify its consultation services before it can be resumed.
In addition, MOH has referred Dr Viknesh Shanmugam, the medical practitioner who issued medical certificates following the consultations, to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for investigations into possible breaches of its ethics code.
MOH warned that it “will not hesitate to investigate and take regulatory and/or enforcement action against licensees who have contravened the HCSA and its subsidiary legislation, as well as refer any errant registered medical practitioners to the SMC for disciplinary action”.