Ensuring Good Governance at Private Clinic Groups

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) what powers does the Ministry have to ensure good governance at private clinic groups to prevent the disruption of primary care services, and (b) whether the payment of medical claims by third party administrators to private clinics should be regulated to safeguard the financial viability of private clinics.

The Minister of State for Health (Dr Lam Pin Min) (for the Minister for Health): Mdm Speaker, under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (PHMCA), the Ministry regulates clinics to ensure that they provide a safe and good standard of care to their patients. This includes the continuity of care for patients.

Where a licensed operator intends to cease operating, or let, sell or in any way dispose of its medical clinic, it is required to notify the Ministry of Health of his intention in writing not less than 30 days before he takes such an action. In order to ensure continuity of care for the clinic's patients, the operator must properly transfer its patients' medical information to another licensed clinic of the patients' choice.

Third Party Administrators (TPAs) provide a range of intermediary services to healthcare providers, such as helping them participate in employer medical benefit programmes, processing of medical claims and concierge services. These are private contractual arrangements between the TPA and healthcare providers which the Ministry of Health does not directly intervene in. However, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has provided guidance to doctors on appropriate fee arrangements through its Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) that emphasises on the ethical practice and appropriate care so that the well-being of the patient will not be compromised.

1.30 pm

Mdm Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos 21-27, 32-34, 36, 38-42, 44-46, 49-50, 52 and 54-64 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix. Question Nos 28-31, 35, 37, 43, 47-48, 51 and 53 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 4 April 2017. ]