Probe into Doctor who Paid Ambulance Services to Divert Patients to Him, Resulting in Delayed Treatment and Death of a Patient

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will consider investigating the case of the delay of urgent treatment by a doctor who paid two ambulance services a commission for taking patients to him at his clinic resulting in the death of one of the patients; and (b) whether the practice of doctors and clinics giving such referral fees to ambulance services is a widespread practice and, if so, why is this allowed.

The case of delayed urgent treatment by a doctor who paid two ambulance services a commission for taking patients to his clinic is already under investigation for professional misconduct by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) since August 2021, after complaints against the doctor were filed.

There are currently no other cases involving the making of gratuitous payments to private ambulance operators that have been reported to the Ministry of Health or the SMC. SMC’s Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines disallow such practices, and also doctors participating in fee splitting or sharing by offering gratuitous payments, gifts or other rewards in exchange for patient referrals. Doctors must always act in the best interests of patients. Failure to do so constitutes a breach of the Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines and will be subjected to the SMC disciplinary process, including being removed from the professional register.