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Source: https://mothership.sg/2024/05/moh-tightens-rules-on-mcs/ The Ministry of Health (MOH) wants to tighten its rules on issuing medical certificates (MCs) amidst concerns that doctors are giving them out too freely. This comes after the ministry received feedback regarding the excessive issuance of MCs following outpatient medical service consultations, and that some MCs were given for non-medical reasons. MOH is currently seeking feedback from doctors on a proposal to amend the Healthcare Services Act to tighten the conditions for issuing MCs, the ministry said in a circular sent to doctors on Apr. 22, seen by Mothership. The allegations The ministry pointed out that particularly in the context of teleconsultations, MCs had been issued solely based on patients' self-reported reasons for consultation without any proper assessment by a medical practitioner if there were such conditions that warranted an MC. "MCs were issued when patients mentioned that they had just wanted a certification to skip work or school, but they were not sick," MOH said. MCs were also repeatedly issued to the same patients without referring them for physical consultations for further assessments to check if they were indeed unwell. Proposed regulations The ministry intends to impose a requirement on doctors to include their name and medical council registration number on every MC issued. In addition, any doctor found advertising or allowing the practice that the issuance of MCs could be "anonymised" would be breaching this regulation. A breach in regulation may result in the revoking of the medical practitioner's license. The ministry may also conduct inspections or audits, or request the relevant procedures and policies with regard to the remote provision of outpatient medical services. Doctors who fail to the code and guidelines may be referred to the professional watchdog for further action. Medical practitioners who would like to provide feedback on the new requirement can email in to [email protected] by May 20. Obligations as a doctor MOH and the Singapore Medical Council reminded all doctors to adhere to the latter's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, which state that "medical certificates must be issued to patients only on proper medical grounds arrived at through good clinical assessment”. Signed jointly by Professor Kenneth Mak, director-general of health at MOH, and Professor Chee Yam Cheng, SMC’s president, the circular said that doctors cannot take extraneous factors into consideration when issuing MCs. These factors include who pays for the consultation, what benefits the patients may receive or what employers' preferences may be. "[An MC] must be made in the context of an existing patient-doctor relationship and is premised on the duty of care the doctor owes the patient arising from this patient-doctor relationship," the circular said.

https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/55/my-healthy-plate?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=native-display&utm_campaign=fy19-nutrilit-oct-feb&utm_content=mhp

As I said, this is the best business ever!!! This is indeed timely https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nea-calls-for-in-depth-study-of-singapores-funeral-industry-after-recent-blunders-by?utm_source=STSmartphone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-06-15 18%3A41%3A13&fbclid=IwAR0o50ZbRM79xfswhZWiYxNOrVSLENzPDAkxGs5td3YYYnHw18z03IxUIjE

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/moh-suspends-10-clinics-from-chas-scheme MOH suspends 10 clinics from Chas scheme for severe non-compliance; case referred to police PUBLISHED OCT 8, 2018 SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Health (MOH) has suspended 10 clinics from the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) for severe non-compliance. The suspension will take place from Oct 23, the MOH said in a statement on Monday (Oct 8). The clinics, which are all under the Access Medical group, had made numerous non-compliant Chas claims such as claims for patient visits or chronic conditions with no relevant supporting documentation. These were revealed following audits by the MOH on the Chas claims. The MOH added that the case has been referred to the police, and the ministry will be referring specific doctors involved to the Singapore Medical Council for further investigation. "MOH takes a serious view of errant practices in making Chas claims," said the statement.

Not sure is this share here 😅😅 Netizens tickled as chatbot on MOH site gives out safe sex advice when asked about Covid-19 https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/covid-19-confused-with-safe-sex-by-ask-jamie-chatbot-on-mohs-website

Malaysia to impose MCO for 2 weeks from Jan 13 in several states to curb Covid-19 cases: Muhyiddin https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/pm-muhyiddin-to-hold-press-conference-at-6pm-as-malaysia-mulls-partial-lockdown-to-curb "this is not unexpected" ...

Msia 18th to 30th march -total ban on public movement and mass activities -all businesses and places of worship closed except for shops and supermarkets -total ban for all overseas travel -self quarantine 14 days for those returning to Malaysia -total ban of foreign visitors -closure of all kindergarten, schools, colleges -closure of all except essential services water, transport, oil & gas, electricity, health, emergency services

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Having been very much involved in the 2003 pandemic outbreak, which spread across >35 countries and killing almost 800 people, I do not wish to see any diseases of such kind in my life again. I was one of the member in MOH committee to map out the quarantine and employee health screening requirement, and at the same time working closely with MOM and our regional team to map out the pandemic response plan, which include splitting functional team into 2 or more groups, to be stationed in different offices. I can tell you that everyone, including personnel from MOH and MOM, are clueless as to what is the best approach, so every suggestion and reasoning counts. One of my colleague was infected when he went to SGH for his regular medical checkup and died a few days later. The saddest part is that none of us were able to send him off (he was in fact cremated on the same day for fear of spreading the virus further). Dr Alexandre Chao, the only son of Professor Chao Tzee Cheng (renowned forensic pathologist in Singapore), was one of the 33 who died from severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), while serving in a hospital fighting the deadly virus. China probes pneumonia outbreak for Sars links: State media BEIJING (AFP) - China is investigating an outbreak of atypical pneumonia that is suspected of being linked to Sars, the flu-like virus that killed hundreds of people a decade ago, state media reported on Tuesday (Dec 31). A team of experts from the National Health Commission were dispatched on Tuesday to Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, and are "currently conducting relevant inspection and verification work", state broadcaster CCTV reported. An emergency notification issued on Monday by the Wuhan municipal health committee said hospitals in the city have treated a "successive series of patients with unexplained pneumonia", without offering details. Chinese news site The Paper reported 27 cases of viral pneumonia in Wuhan in December, citing unnamed health officials from the city. "Of the 27 cases, seven were critical, the rest were under control, and two patients are expected to be discharged from hospital in near future," The Paper said. It is unclear whether all these patients are suspected of having contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), a highly contagious respiratory disease. The emergency notification has urged hospitals to offer treatment and report cases in a "timely manner".

Catch it on news last night. This rare diseases fund is a very good initiative started by MOH, to help families cope with high medical and treatment cost for rare diseases. One of the family interviewed face a monthly medical bill of up to $24K, which is beyond imagination for even a typical middle income family. I hope more can be aware of this RDF, and help to spread the news, so that families in need can benefit from the scheme. It would be good if we could contribute to the fund to help the needy. More information on the RDF is available on www.kkh.com.sg/rarediseasefund New hope for patients with rare diseases with the launching of a new fund https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-hope-for-patients-with-rare-diseases-with-the-launching-of-a-new-fund SINGAPORE - Singaporeans with three forms of rare diseases now have access to financial aid to help with medical expenses which can run into thousands of dollars each month. Launched on Tuesday (July 2) by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and SingHealth Fund, the Rare Disease Fund (RDF) will, for a start, fund five medicines used to treat the three conditions - primary bile acid synthesis disorder, Gaucher disease and Hyperphenylalaninaemia due to tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency. New charity fund to provide financial support for Singaporeans with rare diseases https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/charity-fund-health-rare-disease-treatment-cost-11682554 SINGAPORE: A new charity fund has been set up to help Singaporeans with rare diseases who cannot afford treatment costs. Jointly established by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the SingHealth Fund, the Rare Disease Fund will combine community donations and Government-matched contributions to financially support Singapore citizens with specific rare diseases, MOH announced in a press release on Tuesday (Jul 2). Singaporeans with 3 rare diseases will get funding help for treatment https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/singaporeans-3-rare-diseases-will-get-funding-help-treatment Launched yesterday by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and SingHealth Fund, the Rare Disease Fund (RDF) will, for a start, support the use of five medicines to treat the three conditions - Primary bile acid synthesis disorder, Gaucher disease and hyperphenylalaninaemia due to tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency. The hope is that over time, more rare diseases and medications will be added to the list, an MOH statement said yesterday.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/moh-to-ban-key-source-of-artificial-trans-fats-in-food-like-cookies-and-pizzas-from