RETAILING HEALTH FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS (Guidelines for medical practitioners)

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RETAILING HEALTH FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS:

(Guidelines for medical practitioners): 8.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for Health (a) what are the guidelines for medical practitioners who retail health food and supplements on a franchise basis; and (b) whether shops and clinics involved in multi-level marketing of medical and health products must seek prior approval or register with a medical watchdog body.

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Balaji Sadasivan) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, multi-level marketing (MLM) is not illegal. However, under the Singapore Medical Council's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, a doctor's non-medical business must be clearly separated from his medical practice and his medical qualifications so that the public is not misled into believing that the non-medical product or service is medically beneficial or is being endorsed medically.

It is also stated in the Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines that a doctor must not exert undue influence upon a patient in relation to transactions in which he has an interest. He must not let financial considerations influence the objectivity of his clinical judgment in the treatment of his patients.

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The Ministry of Health (MOH) had in September 2004 sent out a circular to doctors reminding them that the doctor-patient relationship is one that is based on trust and that doctors should adhere to the ethical code governing the profession.

Any complaint against a doctor for breaches of SMC's ethical code and guidelines will be investigated by the Medical Council.