Serangoon clinic suspended for 'numerous' non-compliant CHAS claims
SINGAPORE — Joash Family Clinic & Surgery will be suspended from participating in the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) for making “severe and numerous” non-compliant claims, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press statement on Wednesday (10 April).
The suspension will take effect from 26 April.
In response to media queries, the MOH said that the clinic at Upper Serangoon Road was subjected to an in-depth audit which revealed that the latter had made numerous non-compliant claims without corresponding consultations or patient visits.
These claims were submitted by the clinic between 2015 and 2016.
The case has been referred to the police by the MOH. The doctors from this clinic will also be referred to the Singapore Medical Council any medical mismanagement or unethical behaviour is discovered, the MOH added.
“The MOH closely monitors clinics’ CHAS claims and most CHAS clinics comply with our guidelines,” said the ministry. “The MOH takes a serious view of breaches of our CHAS guidelines and will not hesitate to take action where non-compliance is uncovered.”
It added, “We also remind healthcare professionals to uphold a high standard of professionalism and adhere to their Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines.”
During its suspension, Joash Family Clinic & Surgery can continue to see patients but the treatment it provides will not be covered by CHAS subsidies.
The clinic’s CHAS patients may also refer to the CHAS website for alternative CHAS clinics in the vicinity, said the ministry. If they come across any suspicious or unusual CHAS claims made for them, they can contact the MOH at 1800-225-4122, it added.
Introduced in 2012, CHAS entitles eligible middle and lower income Singaporeans to receive subsidies for medical and dental care at more than 1,000 participating general practitioners and 700 dental clinics.
Since its introduction, 15 clinics have been suspended from the healthcare scheme, and they remain suspended as of today.
In October last year, 10 clinics under Access Medical – Bedok South, Circuit Road, East Coast, Kim Keat, Marine Terrace, Toa Payoh, Whampoa, Jurong West, Redhill Close, and Bukit Batok – were suspended from the CHAS scheme for making numerous non-compliant claims.
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