Following a Ministry of Health ( MOH) investigation that found potential wrongdoing, including the issuing of multiple medical certificates (MC) over a short period of time, a clinic at Beach Road has been directed to suspend its outpatient telemedicine services from Friday ( Aug 16 ).
According to a press release released on Friday, MaNaDr Clinic, which is located at City Gate along Beach Road, is “probably engaged in regularly engaging in therapeutically and ethically improper practices for its outpatient health services.”
The clinic is now licensed to offer outpatient health services , via three modes – at its everlasting premises, any momentary premises as well as electronically.
According to MOH, its preliminary results revealed that there were” a large number of people who had undergone very little teleconsultations, and circumstances of various medical certificates issued over a short period of time to the same patients.”
According to the government, MaNaDr Clinic’s telehealth services are being investigated by the MOH after receiving numerous complaints over the past few months through its website and mobile app.
” To protect the health, safety, and happiness of individuals, MaNaDr Clinic has been directed to prevent the provision of inpatient health services via teleconsultation starting on August 16 until further see.”
Small TELECONSULTATIONS, MULTIPLE MCs ISSUED
A “very large number of cases seen by MaNaDr Clinic involved pretty little teleconsultations”, said MOH on Friday.
” For instance, in a sampled month, more than 100, 000 teleconsultations included movie calls with patients of one second or less in length, with the least being one minute”.
” These brief interviews raise questions about the patient safety and quality of diagnostic attention.”
Some patients received several MCs in a short amount of time, usually within a fortnight.
More than 1, 500 people were given MCs on five or more occasions, according to MOH, with 19 being the highest amount of MCs given to a single person in a fortnight.
Although these teleconsultations were brief, some of the corresponding case notes also contained in-depth details that did n’t seem to be” commensurate with the duration of teleconsultation.”
” In other instances, the situation notes were really limited or small, potentially compromising the consistency of individual care”, it added.
Next year,  , CNA reported , concerns about particular telemedicine apps reportedly issuing MCs when exceedingly short consultations. After a distant conversation that lasted only 43 moments, a CNA writer obtained an MC from MaNaDr.
MOH stated that it will continue to look into MaNaDr Clinic and will not be hesitant to take any additional legal action against the doctor and its essential appointment holders.
Additionally, it stated that it is looking into any potential breaches of the Singapore Medical Council’s ( SMC) ethical code and guidelines.
MOH may refer any health professionals to the SMC for disciplinary action if they have possible ethical violations of the moral code and guidelines.
The ministry added that it will be monitoring and auditing another licensed providers of ambulatory medical care via teleconsultation, especially those who do so via platforms like the MaNaDr platform.
According to MOH,” All healthcare companies who are authorized under the Healthcare Services Act to offer outpatient medical solutions remotely via teleconsultations are reminded to follow their legal obligations under the Healthcare Services Act, as well as the appropriate regulations and appropriate licensing conditions ( including the Licensing Conditions for Remote Provision of Outpatient Medical Service ).”
” Medical practitioners who practice telemedicine are re-arrested that they must always adhere to the SMC’s ethical code and ethical guidelines when doing so.”