PATIENT VISITS AT SPECIALISTS CLINICS

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for Health (a) how many patient visits were made at outpatient specialist clinics of government hospitals in 1996 and 1997; and (b) what is the patient load of doctors at these clinics.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: In 1996 the total number of patient attendances in the specialist outpatient clinics (SOCs) of government acute hospitals, including restructured hospitals, was 2,092,751, of which 459,438 were new cases. In 1997, the numbers rose to 2,197,280 and 489,891 respectively.

On average, the number of patients seen by doctors on duty at SOC clinics of the larger restructured hospitals is between 130 and 200 cases per day per clinic.