MaNaDr Clinic’s teleconsultation suspension does not affect other clinics using its app
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
MOH on Aug 16 directed MaNaDr Clinic in Beach Road to suspend its outpatient telemedicine services over concerns about quality of care to patients.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
SINGAPORE – Clinics and service providers on the MaNaDr app have continued to use the platform to provide teleconsultation services as the Aug 16 suspension of MaNaDr Clinic’s own teleconsultation services does not apply to them.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) had directed MaNaDr Clinic in Beach Road to suspend its outpatient telemedicine services
The ministry told The Straits Times that other clinics and service providers using the MaNaDr platform to provide teleconsultation services have obtained the necessary licensing approval and authorisation under a Healthcare Services Act (HCSA) licence.
While they can continue using the platform, “MOH will be auditing and monitoring them to ensure that the teleconsultations are properly conducted in compliance with the Singapore Medical Council’s (SMC) Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG), as well as relevant regulatory requirements”, a ministry spokesman said.
The ECEG’s telemedicine guidelines state that providers should endeavour to provide the same quality and standard of care as in-person medical care, and ensure patients understand any limitations of telemedicine that may affect the quality of their care.
MaNaDr Clinic was suspended after preliminary investigations by MOH found that a very large number of cases it had seen involved very short consultations. For example, more than 100,000 teleconsultations with patients via video calls lasted one minute or less, with the shortest being one second.
Further regulatory and enforcement action may be taken after the conclusion of ongoing investigations, said MOH.
MaNaDr is operated by Mobile-health Network Solutions, the first Asia-Pacific telehealth company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
A MaNaDr spokesman told ST in September that the platform has initiated a thorough review of all its telemedicine operations, including MC issuance and the length of consultations.
“The platform values MOH’s actions and is confident that any findings will enhance telemedicine services across the industry,” the spokesman added.
The spokesman said that, as far as the platform is aware, medical certificates (MCs) issued by clinics and doctors under their respective remote care licences after Aug 16 remain valid.
MOH said it will also audit and monitor other licensed providers of outpatient services via teleconsultations.
“MOH will not hesitate to investigate and take regulatory and/or enforcement action against licensees which have contravened the HCSA and its subsidiary legislation, as well as refer any errant registered medical practitioners to the SMC for disciplinary action,” said the spokesman.
This comes in the wake of MOH tightening rules over the issuance of MCs by telemedicine platforms.
In an April 22 joint circular to doctors, MOH and SMC said feedback had been received from various employers and government agencies about the “excessive issuance” of MCs following outpatient medical service consultations, particularly teleconsultations.
Among the allegations then were what MOH called “malingering and abusing medical leave privileges”, where MCs were given for non-medical reasons, such as when patients mentioned that they just wanted a certificate to skip work or school, and were not sick.
