Allocation of Resources by SMC for Complaints

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 22 NOVEMBER 2023 

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Yip Hon Weng
MP for Yio Chu Kang

Question No. 5419

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the current allocation of resources for the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) to process complaints; and (b) how does the Ministry plan to ensure that SMC receives sufficient resources to facilitate the timely investigation and expeditious resolution of complaint cases.

Answer

       Mr Speaker, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) depends on both its own manpower resources as well as an external volunteer pool such as doctors and lawyers to support the handling of various complaints and discipline cases. SMC has expanded its resources over the past few years to better manage their workload.  

2      Equally important is to have processes that are streamlined and efficient. The amendments to the Medical Registration Act in July 2022, resulting in the introduction of Inquiry Committees and the ability for SMC to tap on a wider pool of chairmen for complaints-related committees, has helped improve the efficiency of the SMC. SMC has also enhanced training for committee and tribunal members and worked with the Academy of Medicine Singapore and the College of Family Physicians Singapore to expedite the processing and completion of expert reports.

3      These efforts have resulted in improvements where 70% of the complaints lodged in 2022 were concluded within the year, compared to the 23% in 2018. 
 
4    MOH will continue to work with SMC to facilitate the timely conclusion of complaints cases.