Suspension of Medisave Accreditation for Dr Sng Wee Hock

             MOH is suspending the Medisave accreditation of dentist, Dr Sng Wee Hock, who practises at WH Dental Surgeons’ branches at Punggol Field and Hougang, for a period of six months, from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2015.  This is the first case where the Medisave accreditation of a doctor or dentist has been suspended since the Medisave scheme was launched in 1984.

2. Doctors/Dentists and their clinics need to be Medisave-accredited, in order for their patients to use Medisave for their treatment. Dr Sng currently practises at two Medisave-accredited clinics under WH Dental Surgeons¹. With the suspension of his Medisave accreditation,

a. Dr Sng can continue to practise as a dentist in accordance with his registration with the Singapore Dental Council. However, dental treatment and surgical procedures performed by Dr Sng during the period of suspension will not be eligible for Medisave claims.

b. The other dentists practising at these two clinics will continue to be able to make Medisave claims for their treatment, so long as their own and their clinics’ Medisave accreditation remains in force.

3. MOH has requested Dr Sng and WH Dental clinics at Punggol Field and Hougang to inform Dr Sng’s patients that they will not be able to make Medisave claims for treatments and procedures carried out by him between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2015. In addition, MOH will work with Dr Sng to ensure that the non-compliant claims, which were largely claims for surgical procedures different from the actual procedures performed, are rectified and that the monies paid under these claims are returned to the Medisave accounts of the affected CPF members.

4. MOH conducts regular audits of Medisave claims to ensure that such claims comply with approved uses and guidelines. All non-compliant claims have to be rectified and the monies returned to the CPF member’s account. Dr Sng was issued a Letter of Probation in February 2014 for repeated submissions of non-compliant Medisave claims despite MOH’s efforts to help him minimise non-compliances. He was informed then that his Medisave accreditation would be suspended if he made more than two non-compliant claims during a 12-month probation period. As Dr Sng has submitted additional non-compliant claims during the probation period, MOH will suspend his Medisave accreditation.

5. Should Dr Sng wish for his Medisave accreditation to be reinstated at the end of his suspension period, he will have to satisfy MOH that he has taken steps to rectify any non-compliance, and ensure his future compliance, with the Terms and Conditions for Medisave accreditation (in Annex A) as well as all relevant regulations, circulars and guidelines.

6. Medisave is meant to cater for the lifetime healthcare needs of CPF members, and appropriate steps and measures have been put in place to protect the members’ Medisave savings. MOH takes a serious view of non-compliant Medisave claims submitted by Medisave-accredited medical institutions and doctors and dentists. While there has generally been a high level of compliance by doctors and dentists with the rules governing the Medisave scheme, it is important to take to task practitioners with repeated non-compliances. This serves to remind them of their duty to safeguard their patients’ Medisave savings and to use them only according to policies and regulations.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
1 DECEMBER 2014

^[1] Besides the two branches at Punggol Field and Hougang, Dr Sng owns a third dental clinic located at Serangoon North.  This clinic is currently not Medisave-accredited.