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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Parliament on Monday debated changes to the Medical Registration Act, which aims to strengthen penalties against errant doctors.
Tabling the amendment, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the number of complaints against doctors has gone up from 66 in 2003 to 96 in 2009.
However, this could be partly due to the fact that the number of doctors has increased substantially, from 6,292 in 2003 to 9,033 in 2009.
This works out to about 11 complaints per 1000 doctor per year, which Mr Khaw feels is not alarming.
But he said this is also why it is a good time to strengthen the disciplinary processes to cope with the rising number and complexity of complaints.
If the changes are passed, maximum fines against errant doctors are set to increase to S$100,000 from the current S$10,000.
A new section in the Act also enables the Council's Health Committee to restrict a doctor's practice for more than the current maximum of three years, where necessary.
A doctor, who is aware of his/her performance difficulties can also voluntarily ask the Council to remove his/her name from the register, suspend him/her, or impose conditions on his/her practice.
Mr Khaw said this enables the Council to deal with "correctable behaviours" with the mutual consent of the doctor instead of going through formal disciplinary proceedings.
- CNA/yb
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