Employers' Recognition of Hospitalisation Leave Issued by Community Hospitals

Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether hospitalisation leave issued directly by community hospitals to an employee is recognised as hospitalisation leave by the employer; and (b) whether the Employment Act will provide for such recognition in light of increasing follow-up visits made by patients with community hospitals directly.

The Minister for Manpower (Mrs Josephine Teo): Mr Speaker, in our reply to a similar question previously filed by the Member, we explained that in general, community hospitals receive patients who are referred from acute hospitals. Hospitalisation leave certified by a doctor from an acute hospital remains valid under the Employment Act (EA), even if the patient is subsequently transferred to a community hospital. This remains the typical route by which patients enter the community hospital.

Hospitalisation leave issued for patients directly admitted to a community hospital should be recognised under the Employment Act, similar to stays in other public hospitals. However, we understand that only a very small proportion of community hospital patients are directly admitted – that is, admitted without being referred by an acute hospital. Such patients are typically referred by nursing homes or home care providers, and would not be employees in need of hospitalisation leave.

Currently, the Employment Act does not name the community hospitals as among the list of approved medical institutions for certifying hospitalisation leave. MOM intends to work with the Ministry of Health to update this list, and will consult the tripartite partners before finalising it.

Ms K Thanaletchimi (Nominated Member): I must thank the Minister for Ministry for Manpower for that. I would just like to know the timeline for that revision to happen.

Mrs Josephine Teo: The review is on-going and when we are ready, we will update Members.

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (West Coast): It is good news to hear that from the Minister. I would also like to put in a suggestion, as part of the review, to look at registered TCM practitioners by MOH.

Mrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, we note the Member's suggestion. We will certainly take it up with MOH.

Ms K Thanaletchimi: I would also like to ask the Minister if the Primary Care Network clinics are considered to be on par with the GP clinics, so that under the Employment Act, the medical certificates (MC) are recognised and also, they are able to get reimbursements from the employers.

Mrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, the recognition of medical certificates for paid sick leave as provided for in the Employment Act has two parts to it. One part of it is that if it is issued by a Government medical officer, it will be recognised for the purposes of paid sick leave. Alternatively, if the medical practitioner is registered under the Medical Registration Act, and is part of a panel of company-approved practitioners, then the medical certificates are also recognised for paid sick leave. So, in the case of the Primary Care Network, if it falls into these two categories, then the answer is yes.