Patients ‘clearing MCs’ or taking sick leave for holidays: Doctors speak out about telemedicine abuse

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STEPPING UP CHECKS ARE TELEMEDICAL APPS

Some healthcare apps and healthcare services reported to CNA that they are increasing checks on their doctors and patients to avoid abuse in the midst of the MaNaDr event.

Speedoc, a modern healthcare provider that provides telemedicine and house calls, announced more checks and assessments on how its doctors issue MCs.

According to the bank’s chief executive officer, Dr. Shravan Verma, this is to assure that the MCs are given in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Dr. Verma added that if a person visits frequently for picture consultations, they might suggest an in-person discussion to make sure no underlying problems are overlooked.

Also, Fullerton Health, which even offers teleconsultations, said it has an call for repeated-visit people who undergo three or more sessions within the calendar quarter. &nbsp,

According to its spokesperson,” These metrics may help doctors advise for patients to visit a real clinic for a rigorous assessment of unsettled or regular health conditions,” as well as a summary of the times and duration of the medical certificates that were issued for each patient.

CNA reported problems last year about some healthcare apps issuing MCs after very brief consultations. After a 43-second distant conversation, a CNA writer obtained an MC from MaNaDr.

Dr Zeng Zhi Yong, a resident physician at BCH Clinic@Pasir Ris, said he conducts about two to three sessions per week, which typically take about five to 10 days.

” It would be challenging to go through everything in a minute because I have other things to do besides ask them about their symptoms. Additionally, we need to examine potential dark colors. For example, if they say they have a toothache, we may ask them to take their temperatures to see if they are having a fever too”, he said. &nbsp,

Dr. Zeng claimed that single teleconsultations can be made with patients who have previously visited the doctor in person. &nbsp,

Besides methods to reduce hypochondria, &nbsp, healthcare providers CNA spoke to said their doctors have to have a vetting operation before they are allowed to conduct teleconsultations.

According to the telemedicine app Doctor Everywhere, all doctors must provide details about their present employment, licensing, and telemedicine experience, as well as proof that they have completed the health ministry’s required telemedicine e-training. &nbsp,

It does n’t employ doctors who have potential conflicts of interest or are in the public healthcare sector.

Also, Raffles Medical said all teleconsultations are conducted by qualified family physicians and general experts. Moreover, all specialists on its teleconsultation system work full-time, with no outside locums. &nbsp,

Also, Dr Zeng said consultant doctors at his office are never allowed to conduct teleconsultations. &nbsp,

” We do this because we do need our people to see a familiar face, but that it’s a bit more comfortable”, said Dr Zeng.

However, the secret doctor who works part-time on healthcare software remained skeptical about how effective these procedures are in preventing healthcare abuse. &nbsp,

She argued that repeat-visit alerts just function when individuals use the same program.

If a person uses a unique telehealth app, the physician would not be aware of their prior consultations on various platforms unless the patient provided this information.

Setting a teleconsultation minimum duration might not be practical, she said, because some conditions do n’t need much time to be diagnosed.

” These steps are more for the doctors to be able to defend themselves”, she said.

” Actually, the people who abuse healthcare, or the whole MC method, may continue to do so. They should also be held liable for their behaviour” .&nbsp,

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Two roads to the same cliff? What a Harris or Trump presidency could mean for China-US ties

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“( A Trump or Harris win is ) two roads to the same cliff”, said Mr Tangen.

Also, Mr Steven Okun, top assistant from the public affairs advisory firm APAC Advisors, told CNA that whoever takes the Oval Office will not have “directional shift” in China policy.

” US-China plan will be the same under either a Harris or Trump administration. There will be more taxes and more investment limits”, he said.

Both candidates for president have now made it clear what they think of China.

” I will make sure … that America, never China, wins the competition for the 21st millennium”, pledged Ms Harris in late August when she accepted the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

However, her Republican rival Mr Trump- who launched a business war against China while in the White House from 2017 to 2021- has vowed to get even tougher on China and” totally eliminate dependent” on the state of 1.4 billion people.

At a recent public lecture in Singapore, Dr. Chen Dongxiao, a senior research fellow and president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies ( SIIS), said that China is clear-eyed on this and that a Trump or Harris presidency would determine how much of the world’s No 2 economy is contained.

Dr. Chen emphasized that he would have four more years in business without the pressure of re-election if Trump were to win. A US senator may just serve two terms under American law.

He explained that this would be of concern to China, as Mr Trump may have “more area and potential” to mobilise federal companies in order to provide his” aggressive, anti-China isolation plan and measures”.

As observers have noted, China does not want to be accused of meddling in the US vote, so it is not expected to formally state or even mention who it wants to replace as America’s next president. Authorities in China have asserted repeatedly that the US presidential election is an internal matter.

” They do n’t have a vote. They do have a preference. But when they do n’t get their preference, they have to work with whoever occupies the Oval Office in the White House”, said Dr Choong on Beijing’s perspective, based on his conversations with Chinese academics.

The former or the opposition party’s candidate comes out on top, according to Professor Jia Qingguo, past dean of the Peking University School of International Studies and older member of China’s top political advisory body. In this case, a Harris presidency would be more advantageous for Beijing.

” The reason is in a presidential vote, the opposition party would denounce or has to criticize the ruling party’s plans. At a recent event in Singapore, he explained that generally the opposition party prospect would denounce the ruling group for being too soft on China.

” When they get elected, they would have to glory some of their plan promises- &nbsp, whether they are realistic or no- and ( when trying to do so ), the marriage would be in trouble”, he added.

Prof. Jia also cited the possibility of confusion as a result of the presidential change, which might lead to more tense exchanges between the Chinese authorities and the new US management.

A president-elect takes over the federal government’s management from the current leader in the US, giving the incoming head and their group time to prepare for management.

In contrast, he predicted that a victory by the former party candidate, particularly Ms. Harris, may result in a more smoothly transition and some degree of policy continuity-predictability.

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Big city, small home: How millennials face an urban squeeze amid rising rents in Asia-Pacific

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Real estate developers like Spilytus are building micro flats in sought-after areas, such as Ebisu and Nakameguro. This explains their popularity among young people, who like living in prime locations at reasonable rents, said Keisuke Nakama, the company’s president.

Spilytus, which has been developing these shoeboxes for a decade, reported an occupancy rate of 99 per cent across more than 100 properties, with the majority of tenants aged under 30.

Designed specifically for singles, these micro flats typically see stays of around two years. But for Hirata, four years on, he has no plans to move unless prompted by marriage or a major job change.

MILLENNIAL DREAMS IN MANILA

With his plan to upgrade, Permalino feels less inertia but still faces the issue of housing affordability in Metro Manila, where a new home costs, on average, more than double the value per square metre in areas outside.

WATCH: Savings and side hustles to achieve Filipino millennial’s Manila condo dream (7:17)

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SIA, Scoot flights affected as Typhoon Kong-rey lashes Taiwan

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SINGAPORE: Typhoon Kong-rey, one of the biggest storms to hit Taiwan in decades, caused the cancellation of several Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights on Thursday (Oct 31). 

One flight originally bound for Taipei was also diverted to Hong Kong due to weather conditions caused by the typhoon, said a Singapore Airlines (SIA) spokesperson. 

Flight SQ878 was carrying 309 passengers and 14 crew members.

The Boeing 787-10 landed “uneventfully” at Hong Kong International Airport at around 5.10pm local time, said the spokesperson. 

“SIA provided meals and issued meal vouchers to the affected customers on the ground.”

“SQ878 will be renumbered to SQ9875 and will depart Hong Kong for Singapore at 7pm on Oct 31. Hotel accommodation will be arranged for the affected customers in Singapore.”

A relief flight to fly affected passengers to Taipei after weather conditions have improved will also be arranged.

Another SIA flight, SQ879, was cancelled. It had been scheduled to depart Taipei for Singapore on Thursday evening. 

The SIA spokesperson encouraged customers to update their contact details via the “manage booking” function on its website or subscribe to a mobile notification service to receive updates to their flight status.

Typhoon Kong-rey also prompted Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, to cancel three flights between Singapore and Japan that transit in Taipei. 

The flights are TR893, TR874 and TR875. 

“Scoot is contacting affected customers to re-accommodate them onto alternative flights, where available. Affected customers may also request for a full refund if they choose not to continue with their travel,” said a spokesperson in response to queries from CNA. 

The airline is monitoring the situation and will adjust its flight schedules as necessary, added the spokesperson. 

Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall on Taiwan’s east coast on Thursday, causing its airports to cancel more than 300 international flights as well as all domestic flights. 

It is forecast to graze along the coast of China’s Fujian province on Friday. 

One death in Taiwan has been reported in relation to the typhoon.

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Government does not target individuals, organisations for speaking out against death penalty: MHA

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Thursday (Oct 31) that it does not target individuals or organisations for speaking out against the death penalty.

But when false statements are made about government policy, which is a matter of significant public interest, it is important readers know that what they are reading is considered false by the government, it added.

The ministry was responding to CNA’s queries after activist Kokila Annamalai said she will not comply with a correction direction for her posts on Facebook and X on Oct 2 and Oct 3.

The posts had falsely stated that “the government schedules and stays executions arbitrarily and without regard for due legal process, and that the state does not bear the legal burden of proving a drug trafficking charge against the accused person”, said MHA.

MHA said it has already referred Ms Annamalai to the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office for investigations into her non-compliance.

Complying with a correction direction does not involve taking down original false statements, MHA explained. Instead, the government’s position is linked to the original statements through a correction notice. This is to alert readers and allow them to make their own judgments on truth and falsehoods.

If the government puts out an untenable position, the government’s credibility will suffer, it added. If the writer believes that she did not put out falsehoods, the POFMA Order can also be challenged in court.

“Ms Annamalai’s false statements relate to the criminal justice system. Her intent is to undermine public confidence in public institutions, in particular the criminal justice system. She is entitled to do so, based on facts., ” said MHA.

“But where she does so based on falsehoods, the government is entitled to a right of response.”

It added that the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), an activist group that campaigns against the death penalty and which Ms Annamalai has been working with, has on past occasions communicated similar falsehoods.

The government is therefore entitled under law to require Ms Annamalai to indicate that her statements have been the subject of a POFMA Order.

MHA said that this “promotes transparency, and a debate based on facts”.

“What Ms Annamalai is saying is that she should be able to set out falsehoods, to mislead the public (and thereby be allowed to affect public interest) without the public being alerted to her falsehoods in an effective way,” added MHA.

“TJC (which put out the falsehoods originally) has complied with the POFMA Orders. Ms Annamalai, who reposted the TJC posts, has chosen not to despite repeated reminders. Neither has she sought to legally challenge the Order.”

It also said that contrary to what Ms Annamalai suggested, the POFMA Order issued to her does not stop her from sharing her views. This is because readers can still read her original posts, consider the government’s clarification alongside them, and come to their own conclusion. 

“Ms Annamalai clearly prefers that her audience only be able to read her falsehoods,” said MHA.

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With new career-high world rank, Singapore’s Jason Teh keeps patient in search of first major badminton title

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SINGAPORE: Wrapped around Jason Teh’s left forearm is a tattoo he got three years ago reminding him of something close to his heart.

In cursive black font and with a shuttlecock at the base, it reads “Family”.

And if not for family, 24-year-old Teh might not be where he is today – at a career-high 37th in the world and in regular contention for his first major singles title.

Having started the year 61st in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) men’s singles rankings, Teh has made two semi-finals and reached four finals this year, propelling him up the standings.

He is the second-highest ranked men’s singles player in Singapore, behind compatriot Loh Kean Yew who is 14th.

A FATHER’S SACRIFICE 

Born in Penang, Teh got into the sport at the age of four when he accompanied his father, who played recreationally, to the neighbourhood courts.

“I was very active when I was young,” Teh told CNA. “I couldn’t sit still and that’s why I liked going for badminton because that could burn my energy.”

A few years later, Teh’s family moved to Johor Bahru to make it easier for his father, who was working in the F&B industry in Singapore, to commute to work.

Teh was studying in Montfort Junior School and this meant the pair had to get up in the wee hours of the morning to beat the traffic jams crossing the Causeway.

They usually arrived before the school gates opened, and Teh slept in the car until it was time for morning assembly. Eventually, his two sisters joined him on these trips when they too enrolled in Singapore schools.

When school was done for the day, Teh’s father was waiting outside to shuttle him back to Johor Bahru for afternoon badminton training sessions.

“He supported us a lot and really gave everything,” said Teh, who went on to study at Bowen Secondary School and then Singapore Sports School. 

It was this same support which was pivotal when Teh decided to stop school after Secondary 4 to focus on a full-time badminton career.

The option to further his studies by taking up a polytechnic course was on the table, but Teh felt that given his sports schedule, juggling school would have taken away far too much time.

Teh recalled how almost everyone tried to dissuade him, and he could not have made the decision if not for his father’s support.

“I didn’t dare to do it (at first),” Teh said. “He was so much more mature than me … and he guided me.”

Rather than being “half-half” on his budding sporting career, he decided to go all in.

“(My dad) said: ‘If in life you want to fight, you should just straight away go (and do it). If you’re scared of this and scared of that, you cannot succeed in one aspect.

“I’ll never regret (that decision).”

Teh served his National Service immediately after leaving school. His father eventually bought a home in Singapore where the family settled down in 2017 before Teh became a citizen two years later.

“It was good to enlist early so that I could start my career without anything (holding me back),” he explained. “That was when the pandemic hit and there were no tournaments for everybody, so I only lost out on being able to train.”

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Skiing through climate change: China’s latest indoor facility embraces sustainability

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Mr Greg Dingle, a researcher and educator focusing on sport and climate change at La Trobe Business School, questioned the sustainability of indoor ski resorts especially amid China’s climate pledges.

“Producing temperatures indoors that are cold enough for ski activities requires energy, lots of energy,” Mr Dingle said.

“Given the energy-intensity and likely tourist visitation of indoor ski resorts, my assessment is that they are likely not environmentally sustainable.” 

Other experts like Mr Liu Daizhong, East Asia director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), noted severe environmental impacts which come with indoor ski resorts that use significantly higher energy and water consumption as compared to traditional outdoor ski lodges and resorts. 

“Climate change has a significant impact on the ski tourism industry,” Mr Liu told CNA, adding that indoor resorts were expected to operate all year round and “rely entirely on artificial snowmaking and cooling systems” which could lead to substantial electricity and water consumption. 

“Without effective energy-saving technologies, large-scale energy-intensive facilities like this could weaken China’s efforts to achieve its carbon neutrality goals,” Mr Liu said. 

Citing the example that if Chinese skiers are required to commute in a carbon-neutral manner to the resort, and stay in carbon-neutral accommodations, Mr Dingle believes it “perhaps is possibly consistent with the 2030 and 2060 climate commitments.”

When asked how L+SNOW resort could serve as a model for sustainable tourism, the operator told CNA that consumers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai previously had to fly to snowfields in Northeast China or even farther abroad, which “generated considerable carbon emissions during the trip.”

“But now, they don’t need to travel far to go skiing, making it more economical and energy-saving.”

Mr Ma, the ski instructor, says he sees a bright future for winter sports in China.

“Indoor ski resorts will have a positive impact … it’s not limited by seasons or weather, allowing more people to experience the joy of skiing at any time,” he said. 

“Skiing should focus more on popularising and promoting the sport to encourage greater participation, while simultaneously raising public awareness about environmental protection, contributing collectively to the preservation of our planet.”

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The world’s largest indoor ski resort has opened in China. How will this impact its climate goals?

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Mr Greg Dingle, a researcher and educator focusing on sport and climate change at La Trobe Business School, questioned the sustainability of indoor ski resorts especially amid China’s climate pledges.

“Producing temperatures indoors that are cold enough for ski activities requires energy, lots of energy,” Mr Dingle said.

“Given the energy-intensity and likely tourist visitation of indoor ski resorts, my assessment is that they are likely not environmentally sustainable.” 

Other experts like Mr Liu Daizong, East Asia director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), noted severe environmental impacts which come with indoor ski resorts that use significantly higher energy and water consumption as compared to traditional outdoor ski lodges and resorts. 

“Climate change has a significant impact on the ski tourism industry,” Mr Liu told CNA, adding that indoor resorts were expected to operate all year round and “rely entirely on artificial snowmaking and cooling systems” which could lead to substantial electricity and water consumption. 

“Without effective energy-saving technologies, large-scale energy-intensive facilities like this could weaken China’s efforts to achieve its carbon neutrality goals,” Mr Liu said. 

Citing the example that if Chinese skiers are required to commute in a carbon-neutral manner to the resort, and stay in carbon-neutral accommodations, Mr Dingle believes it “perhaps is possibly consistent with the 2030 and 2060 climate commitments.”

When asked how L+SNOW resort could serve as a model for sustainable tourism, the operator told CNA that consumers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai previously had to fly to snowfields in Northeast China or even farther abroad, which “generated considerable carbon emissions during the trip.”

“But now, they don’t need to travel far to go skiing, making it more economical and energy-saving.”

Mr Ma, the ski instructor, says he sees a bright future for winter sports in China.

“Indoor ski resorts will have a positive impact … it’s not limited by seasons or weather, allowing more people to experience the joy of skiing at any time,” he said. 

“Skiing should focus more on popularising and promoting the sport to encourage greater participation, while simultaneously raising public awareness about environmental protection, contributing collectively to the preservation of our planet.”

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‘It’s good to have nerves’: Pro gamer Nicolai ‘dev1ce’ Reedtz on Counter-Strike tournament finals

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To play the game, you must understand the way your teammates think and their behaviours. Are you as attuned to each other in real life?

Definitely a big part of building a solid team is getting to know each other, spending time outside the game.

I would say that even though we are a relatively new team playing together, we are quite close. A lot of the guys on the team have known each other for a long time.

It’s about getting to know each other outside the game, but also inside of the game. And it takes time to learn the thought process that’s going on in different situations.

How would you say your personality outside the game differs from – or is similar to – the way that you play the game?

Oh, that’s hard. I’d say it correlates quite well. At least inside of the game, I like to be vocal and take some of the important decisions.

Outside of the game, we don’t really do much other than play video games. So I don’t feel like I change character when I go into the game.

If you were not a professional gamer, though, what do you think you’d be doing?

Probably would have gone to law school. It’s just in the family. It’s a bloodline thing.

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