Average Waiting Time for Appointments for Patients Referred by Medical Social Workers to Medical Service Providers

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the average waiting time for patients referred by medical social workers to medical service providers, such as doctors or specialists, to obtain appointments; and (b) whether this matching process is triaged in any way for urgent cases.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Medical social workers in public healthcare institutions do not refer patients directly to doctors in polyclinics and public hospitals. Patients typically make direct appointments with polyclinics or are referred by family physicians to see specialists.