Ministry of Health Acts Against Illegal Medical Practice

08 Nov 2005

An Indian national, Natarajan Nambirajan (male/52 years old), had pleaded guilty on 4 Nov 2005 to charges under the Medical Registration Act, Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act and 8 charges under the Poisons Act for carrying on an illegal medical practice in Singapore. His patients are primarily foreign workers from India but also include some Singaporeans.

Natarajan was in Singapore on a Social Visit Pass when he set up his clinic at Veerasamy Road to provide medical treatment.  He had also claimed in his name cards that he could treat venereal diseases, menstrual trouble, cancer and sexual disorders. As a result of intelligence gathered by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), officers from ICA and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided the clinic on 6 October 2005 and arrested Natarajan. A large quantity of Western medicine, including injectable preparations were seized. Natarajan had treated a number of foreign workers on the day of his arrest.

Natarajan is not a certified medical practitioner and does not possess any medical qualifications. Under section 17(1)(a) of the MRA, any unauthorised person who practices medicine shall be liable on first conviction to a fine of up to $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

As he did not possess a valid licence to operate his clinic at Veerasamy Road, Natarajan was also liable to face a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

For each charge under the Poisons Act, Natarajan faced a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 2 years or both.

He was sentenced to a total of 8 months' imprisonment. Another 9 charges under the Poisons Act were taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing. Natarajan had been separately dealt with by ICA for violating the conditions of his Social Visit Pass.

The Ministry of Health will not hesitate to take stern action against unqualified persons who provide medical treatment. Members of public are also strongly advised against seeking medical treatment from unqualified persons. For foreign workers, it is also advisable for them to have medical insurance coverage to protect themselves. 

Ministry of Health

8 November 2005