Medstar Medical Clinic & Surgery is currently under investigation by the Ministry of Health (MOH) due to allegations of improperly issuing medical certificates (MCs) through its telemedicine service, PocketCare. The MOH received information in February indicating that PocketCare had been advertising on Instagram and its website that patients could obtain an MC in five minutes for S$5.99 nett without any video consultation.
Upon investigation, the MOH discovered that the clinic provided consultations through a self-service text-based questionnaire and issued MCs without any audio or video interaction with patients. This practice raises concerns about the accuracy of the information provided by patients and the lack of appropriate clinical assessment for those who require it.
The MOH has referred the clinic’s registered medical practitioner, Viknesh Shanmugam, to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for investigations into possible breaches of the SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG). The MOH is also investigating whether the PocketCare website’s claim that patients could “Get Your MC or Get a Refund” infringes any regulations.
The MOH has issued a notice to the clinic, expressing the Director-General of Health’s intention to take regulatory action in respect of its consultation. This action could result in a three-month suspension of PocketCare’s remote mode of service delivery and the requirement for the clinic to rectify its consultation services to ensure compliance before resuming operations. As of now, the PocketCare website is under maintenance.
This incident highlights the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines and regulations when providing medical services, particularly through telemedicine. Patients must receive appropriate clinical assessments to ensure the accurate diagnosis and treatment of their medical conditions, and healthcare providers must ensure that their services comply with all relevant regulations and guidelines.