Tech

The Authorities Have Spoken About E-MC in S’pore

2017-09-15 , 4:14 pm

If you haven’t heard, there are apps that allow you to “see doctors” and “take MC” without leaving your house.

Or what they call, telemedicine.

And I bet you’re trying to think of ways to get your company to accept it because, hey, it’s easier to chao geng, right?

Well, the Ministry of Health has put their foot down and gave their input on the electronic medical certificate.

If they had their way, say goodbye to getting an MC in the comfort of your bed.

Ministry of Health (MOH) Says E-MC Should Only Be Given After Proper Clinical Assistance

MOH says that it is the responsibility of doctors who give e-MC to abide by appropriate measures when issuing MC to patients through video calls.

And if the “proper” medical ground could not be established through a video call, the doctors have the responsibility to ask the patient for a face-to-face visit.

Basically, whether the person is faking (or malingering in NS terms).

Having a disclaimer doesn’t absolve doctors of responsibilities

If you’ve tried any apps that allow you to see a doctor remotely, you’ll realise that most, if not all of them, have a disclaimer attached to the app.

Telemedicine is only effective for minor illnesses, and if you’re having anything serious like breathing difficulty or chest pains, you should check yourself in to the nearest hospital immediately.

MOH warn doctors and tell them that even with the disclaimer, they are still responsible for the patient.

They can still be held liable for negligence and misconducts.

If there is something they cannot confirm, they have to request for a meetup to accurately assess the patient’s health.

MOH is now looking into “remote examination and vital signs monitoring technologies”

MOH acknowledges that telemedicine is a growing field and it’s not all bad. Especially in land-scarce Singapore.

It’ll help to cut down queues at the Polyclinics for people who really need the doctors.

They’re looking at overseas development and the technologies to be able to assess a patient’s health remotely.

Maybe an app that can detect illness with your smartphone’s hardware.

However, MOH maintains that the utmost priority for Singapore healthcare, including telemedicine, is the patient’s safety.

I got to say, though; taking an MC when you’re not sick, even when you go to a clinic, is actually pretty commonplace today.

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