CLINICS ENCOURAGED TO COMMUNICATE OPERATING HOURS AND REGISTRATION CUT-OFF TIMES TO IMPROVE PATIENT EXPERIENCE

We thank Mdm Huang Wenyan for her letter ("We thank Mdm Huang Wenyan for her letter", 15 January 2026).  

We understand her concerns about patients being turned away before closing times, particularly for the elderly.

General Practitioner (GP) clinics decide their registration cut-off times based on operational factors such as staffing arrangements, clinic capacity, patient load, and day-to-day contingencies. Clinics must balance these operational constraints with the accessibility of services and delivery of quality care. When patient demand exceeds a clinic’s capacity to provide care, stopping registrations helps to ensure that existing patients receive appropriate medical attention and standards are upheld.

While there is no regulatory requirement for clinics to display cut-off times, MOH encourages GP clinics to clearly communicate their operating hours and registration cut-off times to improve patient experience.

To avoid disappointment, members of the public can call the clinic prior to a visit to confirm their availability and registration cut-off times for that day. If the clinic is unavailable, other options such as visiting other nearby clinics or community pharmacies for advice and treatment for minor ailments may be considered.

Adj A/Prof David Tan
Director (Primary and Community Care)
Ministry of Health 

卫生部鼓励诊所告知挂号截止时间

谨答复《联合早报·交流站》于1月15日刊登的黄闻燕读者投函《应明确告知诊所挂号截止时间》：

我们感谢黄女士的投函。

我们理解她对病患，尤其是年长者，在诊所关闭时间前被拒诊的担忧。

全科诊所会根据员工安排、诊所容量、病患数量以及日常突发情况等运营因素，决定挂号截止时间。诊所必须在这些运营制约与服务可及性，及提供优质护理之间取得平衡。当病患需求超出诊所的护理承载能力时，停止挂号有助于确保现有病患获得适当的医疗关注，并维持服务标准。

尽管目前没有法规要求诊所展示挂号截止时间，但卫生部鼓励全科诊所明确告知营业时间及挂号截止时间，以提升病患就诊体验。

为避免扑空，公众可在前往前致电诊所，确认当天的接诊情况和挂号截止时间。如果诊所无法接诊，可考虑其他选项，例如前往附近其他诊所，或社区药房寻求对轻微病症的建议和治疗。

卫生部
基层与社区医疗司 司长 
陈贤勇 兼任副教授