2 doctors barred from making MediSave, IP claims for 6 months

They are among 6 rapped for overtreating, overclaiming or claiming for work not done

- Salma Khalik and Judith Tan

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has taken action against six private specialists for overtreating, overclaiming or claiming for procedures that were not done, as "part of MOH's broader efforts to ensure that healthcare costs and premiums remain affordable for all Singaporeans".

This is the first time it has done so since the Escalation and Enforcement Framework (EEF), which gives the ministry more teeth to act against errant doctors, was put in place on April 1, 2023.

For their "egregious non-compliances", two of the doctors and their clinics have been suspended from making claims against MediSave or MediShield Life, including Integrated Shield Plans (IPS), for six months, starting from Aug 5.

The most severe penalty would be to have MOH revoke a doctor's ability to make claims.

The other four have to undergo in-person training on prevailing MOH guidelines for non-compliance.

Whistle-blowing and analytics brought these cases to MOH's notice.

The two doctors who were suspended are general surgeon Melissa Teo Ching Ching from Melissa Teo Surgery at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre and The Surgical Oncology Clinic at Connexion in Farrer Park, and ophthalmologist Natasha Lim from Dr Natasha Lim Eye Centre at Royal Square@Novena.

Both of them can continue to practise, as well as submit claims to non-IP insurers, including companies that pay for their employees' treatments.

The MOH spokesman pointed out that for both doctors, IP claims made up a significant portion of their incomes.

The ministry is still reviewing whether to refer them to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), or even the police, for further action.

It did not name the other four doctors, who have to undergo training.