41 Doctors Investigated as MaNaDr Clinic Loses Licence
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has initiated the revocation of MaNaDr Clinic’s licence following investigations into concerns over unethical medical practices. The clinic conducted teleconsultations that often lasted less than a minute, raising serious concerns about patient safety and care quality.
Despite these brief consultations, doctors issued medications and medical certificates (MCs) to patients.
MOH noted that these practices fall short of both clinical and ethical standards, and concluded that MaNaDr is “unable to continue providing outpatient medical services in a clinically and ethically appropriate manner.”
Short Teleconsultations at MaNaDr Raise Safety Concerns
MOH’s investigation into MaNaDr revealed a pattern of extremely short teleconsultations, with many video calls lasting a minute or less. These sessions frequently concluded with the prescription of medications and the issuance of MCs, raising significant concerns about patient safety.
MOH emphasised that these brief interactions may not allow sufficient time for a proper clinical evaluation. This raises concerns about whether the medications and MCs were issued on valid medical grounds.
“Such short consultations raise concerns about the safety and quality of clinical care provided to patients,” the ministry stated.
Singaporeans express concern over telemedicine misuse, taking to online platforms like Reddit to call out platforms like MaNaDr for prioritising profits over patient care.
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Repeated Issuance of Medical Certificates by MaNaDr
In addition to the short teleconsultations, MOH found that MaNaDr frequently issued multiple MCs to the same patients over a short period of time. In some cases, patients received several MCs within just 30 days, following brief teleconsultations. This raised red flags about whether the MCs were justified and whether MaNaDr was complying with ethical standards in the issuance of these documents.
MOH also noted that some patient case notes were unusually detailed, given the short duration of the consultations, while others were alarmingly sparse. These inconsistencies suggested that either the documentation was manipulated or that proper clinical evaluations were not being conducted.
According to MOH, such poor documentation “potentially compromises the continuity of patient care.”
MaNaDr and Its “Culture of Disregard” for Ethical Standards
MOH concluded that MaNaDr exhibited an “entrenched culture of disregard for the applicable clinical and ethical standards.” This culture was evident in the clinic’s continued practices of issuing MCs and prescriptions after minimal teleconsultations.
According to MOH, these actions reflected a systemic failure within the clinic to uphold professional obligations towards patient safety and proper medical care.
This entrenched culture raises concerns not just about MaNaDr itself, but also about the broader telemedicine landscape. As one Reddit user pointed out: “I do think the bare minimum is to have proper asking of questions of symptoms, proper documentation.”
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41 Doctors Referred to the Singapore Medical Council
MOH referred 41 doctors linked to MaNaDr to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for potential professional misconduct. These doctors allegedly violated ethical guidelines in clinical evaluations, record-keeping, and issuing medical certificates. Such practices fail to meet the standards of the Singapore Medical Council’s Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG).
Thirteen of the 41 doctors worked as locum practitioners while they held positions at public healthcare institutions. These doctors violated their employment terms by engaging in unauthorised external work, often conducting teleconsultations while on active duty in public hospitals. This breach of trust has led to the dismissal of seven doctors, while five have already left the public healthcare sector.
Potential Impact on Telemedicine in Singapore
The MaNaDr case could significantly impact Singapore’s telemedicine sector, an important resource for patients who struggle to access in-person consultations, such as those with mobility issues or chronic conditions.
A Redditor’s comment reflects public sentiment on related issues, questioning why employees should need an MC each time they call in sick. They believe that mandatory MCs create unnecessary stress and that trust in employee responsibility could benefit workplace culture.
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This point mirrors concerns around telemedicine: could a culture shift towards greater trust in patient self-management also benefit healthcare?
In response, MOH has stated it will continue to monitor and audit other telemedicine providers to ensure regulatory compliance. Providers who violate these rules may face strict penalties, including licence suspension or revocation. This heightened scrutiny aims to reinforce standards across the sector, reassuring the public of the safety and reliability of telemedicine services.
