SINGAPORE – Between 2023 and 2025, more than 20 doctors and dentists here were caught practising without a valid registration or after their practising certificates had expired.
No patient was harmed in the cases reported and investigated, the Ministry of Health (MOH) told The Straits Times.
MOH said these errant practitioners were formally trained practitioners who did not have the necessary or valid credentials, mainly due to issues that were “administrative in nature and not related to professional competency”.
In several instances, the practitioners had unintentionally continued practising after their practising certificates had expired, it said.
But in the light of the cases, MOH sent a circular on Feb 6 to remind all licensees under the Healthcare Services Act and its Regulations, including general practitioners and dental clinics, to have proper credential verification processes in place.
The circular seen by ST said MOH had been notified that some licensees “may not be conducting adequate due diligence” to ensure all professionals are registered and hold valid practising certificates before they are employed or engaged to provide medical or dental services physically or remotely.
“This is particularly of concern for licensees employing or engaging the services of locum doctors or dentists,” said Adjunct Professor Raymond Chua, MOH’s deputy director-general of health for health regulation, who signed the circular.
