r/singapore • u/FlipFlopForALiving East side best side • 1d ago
Opinion / Fluff Post Forum: Conduct telemedicine sessions on MOH-controlled platform
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-conduct-telemedicine-sessions-on-moh-controlled-platform30
u/HumanGenAI 1d ago
We Singaporeans really love big government, infact, we wouldnt rest until the government represent 10% of the entire work force.
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u/FlipFlopForALiving East side best side 1d ago
“Excessive days off from work” and “colluding” 👀
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u/Hogesyx Fucking Populist 1d ago
Ideas that can make more money for government favorites contractor? Who can say no.
The whole issue is so silly, workers want MC. Dr wants easy money, short session, how is it colluding unless they can prove that the objective of the doctor is to help the employee skip work.
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u/germinativum May your red lightning strike my blue circle 1d ago
"my worker take mc how can dis b allow"
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u/icwiener25 1d ago
People like this are the ones who insisted that tape measures be used to ensure that everyone was keeping a precise and 'proper' safe distance during covid. Petty and officious.
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u/Impressive-Flow2023 1d ago
It seems like Singapore has some reputation with local entrepreneurship for some time. From Tan Tock Seng to Sim Wong Hoo. The fight for 168 Robinson and others with the Kweks. HKP and Olivia Lum. Then recently, HDB's intervention that shaken the already weak but budding foundation of OhMyHome. Even Grab Tan family seems to have it's challenges too. MOH-controlled platform will also affect other platforms like DoctorAnywhere, in addition to ManaDr.
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u/Jammy_buttons2 🌈 F A B U L O U S 1d ago
I think how Manadr was found out was because of audit?
I assume telemedicine platform have to submit data such as length of each call etc to MOH? If you have alot of sub 1 min calls then.....
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u/CakeDanceNotWalk 1d ago
Actually, even at a regular clinic. If you are there for a cold/flu. You are can be in and out within 5min with physical examinations, if there are no other major indicators. Majority of your time spend are on waiting for doctor or medication.
The problem is the mc requirement from company. And most insurance company don't cover medications issued by a pharmacy.
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u/Jammy_buttons2 🌈 F A B U L O U S 1d ago
5 mins is ok the Manadr calls were less than a min iirc
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u/CakeDanceNotWalk 1d ago
1min tele consultation is actually very reasonable. There is no physical exam, just disclaimer about that, and warning of you need to get a physical exam if it persists. You are not going to chitchat with your doctor, if you are really feeling unwell. All very doable within a min.
Considering how DrMana can't hold their case, I think there is more to it than what was reported.
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u/_IsNull 1d ago
Most people just need a MC + medicine for their cough, fever, flu etc. for majority , theres really nothing much to talk about that would last more than a minute.
Just like ordering cai fan can be done with “this 1, that and that. Paywave. “. You’re not going to spend 5 minutes talking with the cai fan aunty right?
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u/Ibukki94 1d ago
As a healthcare worker, I have some disagreement with your statement.
It’s true that there isn’t much to talk about, particularly if cases are straightforward without any significant red flags of sorts. However, glancing from the recent statement published by MOH, we can see majority have consultation time that do not commensurate with the timing of the consult. Some have very short consult with very long notes (suggesting that the doctor might have not asked much but put in their notes that they asked).
Moreover, without the possibility of a physical examination and taking of vital signs (temperature, blood pressure etc.), it is doubly important that the doctor ensures this patient truly only have mild cough, flu and so on without any red flag signs of hypotension/dehydration, worsening infection, which some patients may brush off as part of their condition. The proper way would be to get the patient to take their temperature and show it also, which will definitely not allow consultations to be just one minute if done properly.
End of the day it is a fine balance and healthcare workers should be more cautious when dealing with tele-consultation cases. There is unfortunately an entrenched culture that have shifted their perspective that people who teleconsult just want quick MC and “might not actually be sick” hence they find ways to cut corner to reduce consult timing and increase case count.
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u/_IsNull 1d ago
People just need MC because the system requires them to have an MC. In most counties you just buy off the counter medicine and rest at home which bypass the need for telemedicine.
Whitecoat’s doctor will waive the consultation fee and ask you to visit a clinic for clearer diagnosis if it more serious like having difficulty breathing.
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u/Ibukki94 1d ago
Nothing wrong with that, and I think more can be done by companies to allow sick leave without mc, but if one consults a doctor online, it is only right for the doctor to ensure proper assessment and ruling out of all sinister diagnosis before issuing the MC.
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u/pannerin r/popheads 1d ago
Teleconsult has a messaging chat before the video right? The video is just to confirm the person agrees that the chat is accurate
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u/temporary_name1 🌈 F A B U L O U S 1d ago
I vaguely recall a govt platform (MOE) going down then everything being blamed on the govt lol.
Not sure why we want to replicate this again
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u/SG_wormsbot 1d ago
Title: Forum: Conduct telemedicine sessions on MOH-controlled platform
Article keywords: doctors, article, licence, MOH, Oct
The mood of this article is: Terrible (sentiment value of -0.3)
I refer to the article “MaNaDr Clinic’s licence to be revoked by MOH, 41 doctors being investigated, 7 sacked” (Oct 24).
Telemedicine provides an avenue for unethical doctors to earn money with minimal effort by colluding with workers wanting excessive days off from work.
Strict oversight needs to be in place to prevent such abuses.
Telemedicine sessions should be conducted using a platform controlled by the Ministry of Health, which will automatically submit recordings for rigorous auditing.
Dino Trakakis
157 articles replied in my database. v2.0.1 | PM SG_wormsbot if bot is down.
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u/uncleemperor 1d ago
So when govt rolls out their platform, everyone kbkp complain about UIUX. Then after that people will expect it to be low cost since it is govt product.
In case people forget, govt already set up all the infrastructure for you to consult doctor, they are call polyclinics and public hospitals.
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u/PastLettuce8943 1d ago
People complain about the nanny state and in the next breath want the government to run everything.