UNSUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS LODGED AGAINST HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN LAST THREE YEARS AND ENFORCEMENT MEASURES TO DETER REPEAT OFFENDERS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 430

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 04 FEBRUARY 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

MP for Sengkang GRC 

Question No. 864

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) over the last three years, how many complaints lodged against healthcare workers, including nurses, are found to be frivolous and vexatious after investigations; (b) whether investigations are conducted against such complainants, especially in cases where the complaints are lodged anonymously; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider enhancing enforcement actions against repeat complainants to deter such behavior.

Answer

1        The Ministry of Health and Public Healthcare Institutions have established systems to process complaints appropriately. For complaints that are frivolous, a polite reply may be issued. Complaints that raise serious concerns are investigated even if they are submitted anonymously. In cases where complainants become abusive, we disengage from further communication. However, we do not specifically track the number of frivolous, vexatious or anonymous complaints.

2        For complaints lodged with the Professional Boards, there are procedures in place to investigate these complaints and dismiss those that are unsubstantiated. In the past three years, 32% of complaints were dismissed this way.

3        The Professional Boards do not initiate investigations against frivolous complainants. However, measures are in place to deter frivolous and vexatious complaints. For example, individuals making complaints against registered healthcare practitioners are generally required to make a statutory declaration concerning their complaint. Action may be taken against complainants who make false declarations.