No need to review telemedicine regulations: Ong Ye Kung

Enforcement has been successful in going after errant operators, Health Minister says

- Lee Li Ying

There is no need for Singapore to review its current telemedicine standards and requirements, especially as enforcement has been effective in going after errant operators, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Nov 11.

"Regulatory frameworks do not eradicate offences, which is impossible. Instead, it ensures that when practices have gone astray, especially with the advent of new technology and business models, they can be corrected promptly," he added.

The minister was responding to parliamentary questions filed by Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar GRC) and Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) on measures put in place to ensure that telehealth operators meet patient care standards, and whether additional regulatory frameworks will be put in place following lapses identified at tele-medicine operator MaNaDr Clinic. The clinic's doctors were found to have conducted teleconsultations of less than a minute, issued multiple medical certificates (MCs) within a short period such as 30 days, and maintained extremely sparse patient case notes.