FOREIGN DOCTORS PRACTISING IN SINGAPORE

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health (a) whether foreign doctors practising in Singapore are subject to the same regulations and medical ethics as local doctors, and (b) what machinery his Ministry has to regulate these standards on practising doctors.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, all doctors, whether Singaporeans or foreigners, are subject to the same regulations and medical ethics.

The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) will only register doctors who have met the required standards before they are allowed to practise in Singapore. Medical registration is granted to overseas trained doctors, Singaporeans or foreigners, if the applicant -

(a) holds a basic medical degree awarded by one of the medical schools listed in the Schedule of the Medical Registration Act; or

(b) holds a recognised specialist qualification, and possesses special knowledge and skills in a field of medicine that are needed by Singapore.

The SMC has drawn up an "Ethical Code" to be observed by all doctors. Since 1995, all newly registered doctors, Singaporeans and foreigners, are required to take the Physician's Pledge of the SMC, which serves as a formal affirmation of their commitment to follow the code of professional conduct and ethics. Disciplinary action will be taken against doctors who breach the Code.

The SMC will act on all complaints received concerning doctors' professional conduct and fitness to practise. The penalties that can be imposed on doctors include censure, fine, suspension or even removal from the register.

Complaints are usually received from members of the public. My Ministry's Medical Audit and Accreditation Unit regularly inspect health care establishments and will report any lapses in professional practice by doctors to the SMC for follow up action.

Dr Lily Neo: Sir, may I ask the Minister whether the Johns Hopkins Hospital is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, as it may have come under the Foreign Direct Investment Scheme? Are the Hospital and its medical staff subjected to the same laws and practice guidelines as for local hospitals and local medical personnel?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is yes. The practitioners in Johns Hopkins Hospital will be required to be registered by the SMC, just like any other medical professional who wants to practise in Singapore. Similarly, the Johns Hopkins clinic itself will have to undergo registration by the Medical Audit and Accreditation Unit of my Ministry. So Johns Hopkins will have to follow the same rules, as any other practitioner and any other clinic in Singapore.

Assoc. Prof. Toh See Kiat (Aljunied): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of any practices by the practitioners in Johns Hopkins Clinic to solicit business in a way that other doctors in Singapore are not allowed to?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, I guess the Member is referring to the recent press report about a petition by 50 medical practitioners regarding the advertisement put up by Johns Hopkins. Let me say that there are two elements in that complaint. One is whether we use the same rules for the people practising in Johns Hopkins Hospital. There is this allegation that it is an uneven playing field. SMC has replied to the complainants on 3rd August 1999 to say that the same rules were applied to the registration of doctors. To-date, SMC has only registered two John Hopkins specialists. Both of them have the American Board certification in internal medicine and medical oncology, which are recognised specialist qualifications. So the two specialists in Johns Hopkins Hospital have been duly registered based on the same rules that we apply for Singaporean specialists.

As to the allegation about the advertisement, this matter is still under investigation by my Ministry's Medical Audit and Accreditation Unit.