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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Repost: Foreign Doctors with Unapproved Medical Degree Found Working in Polyclinics

Image courtesy of www.www.theindependent.sg


It has been reported on TISG that Singaporeans who went to polyclinics to see a doctor had asked for a local doctor instead when they were being referred to see a foreign one (http://theindependent.sg/singaporean-assigned-a-foreign-doctor-at-polyclinic-demands-a-local-one).

A netizen explained he did so because he didn’t want to take chances of risking his mother’s life to some foreign “uncertified doctor”.

Some netizens also brought up the case of Madam Koh Ah Tow who later died after she was prescribed with the wrong dosage of medicine by a Filipino doctor, Dr Diana Ramos Santos, at Clementi Polyclinic. Madam Koh died after she received 4 times more than the normal dosage she was supposed to be taking.

To make matters worse, Dr Santos tried to cover up and did not amend the prescription even after realising this. At the time, the media didn’t say where Dr Santos had obtained her medical degree from.

SMC issuing “temporary” license to foreign doctors from unaccredited medical schools

It has also been reported in an article that to circumvent the shortages of doctors in Singapore, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) appears to be resorting to issuing “temporary” license to foreign doctors from unaccredited 3rd-world medical schools to work here (http://theindependent.sg/smc-issuing-temporary-license-to-foreign-doctors-with-unaccredited-degree-to-work-here).

According to SMC’s own website (http://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/content/hprof/smc/en/leftnav/becoming_a_registereddoctor/international_medical_graduates.html), for doctors with foreign medical degree, only those who graduated from any of the below approved list of overseas medical schools are recognised by SMC:

http://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/content/dam/hprof/smc/docs/becoming_registered_doctor/Second%20Schedule%20-%20Registrable%20Basic%20Medical%20Qualifications.pdf

SMC specifically stated (http://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/content/hprof/smc/en/leftnav/becoming_a_registereddoctor/international_medical_graduates.html), “The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) would like to highlight that International Medical Graduates who do not hold qualifications which are recognised by the SMC, will not be eligible to apply for medical registration to practise in Singapore. This applies to all applicants.”

But then it added a caveat at the end of the page, saying that doctors who do not meet this criteria “may apply for temporary registration”.

Indeed, in the article, it highlighted 2 such examples – both doctors from Myanmar below had graduated from the University of Yangon. This university is not found inside the approved list of medical schools from SMC itself. Yet both were given “temporary registration” to work as medical practitioners at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong:


Foreign doctors with unapproved degree also work at polyclinics

In addition to hospitals, foreign doctors who graduated from unapproved 3rd-world medical schools (i.e, those not found inside the above SMC approved list) have also been found practising at our polyclinics.

A cursory search on SMC website (https://prs.moh.gov.sg/prs/internet/profSearch/main.action?hpe=SMC) found at least 2 were given “temporary registration” to work here – one at Marine Parade polyclinic and the other at Outram polyclinic:



One graduated from lloilo Doctors’ College of Med Inc (Philippines) and the other from Far Eastern U (Philippines). In fact, SMC’s own approved list of medical schools does not list any of the Philippines universities inside. Nor is there any from Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia.

Only 5 third world countries have some of their medical schools approved by SMC. They are China (8 schools), India (9 but 1 was deleted), Malaysia (2), Pakistan (1), Sri Lanka (1).

45 comments:

  1. 3Rd world pa din ba

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    Replies
    1. This is hurtful for the ASEAN member states. Naglaunch sila ng ASEAN COMMUNITY yet, hindi nila nirerecognize ang mga medical schools from SG's neighboring states. What's worse is yung management ng Polyclinic na dapat finifilter nila maigi yung mga staff and if not qualified, be given a 1-2 yrs training or scholarship from NUS.

      Nakakaawa din ung OFW na Doctors na gusto lang maging doctor sa ibang bansa at di na kailangan magaral ng nursing makapag abroad lang. SAYANG.

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    2. Isa yan sa dapat isulong ng ASEAN council natin. Ang mga Philippine CPAs kelangan lang kumuha ng certification to be an ASEAN CPA then recognized na sya sa member countries. Bukod sa laws ano pa bang difference ng practice of medicine from other countries?

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  2. You call China "third World"?! Don't make me laugh!
    And please show humility at least...they're developing countries! Puro ka third world!

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    Replies
    1. Dun ka magreklamo sa mismong source linked by FP. Hindi sya ang nagsulat nitong article, repost nga eh.

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  3. Hay naku kapalpakan ng isang pinoy sa Sing, damay lahat. Sa susunod pag may pumalpak na Singaporean dito sa Philippines dapat damay din buong lahi nila. Dapat yun doctor lang na yun ang punteryahin nila.

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    1. Natumbok mo 2.25

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    2. Tumfact 2:25. It's very sad. Gusto ko din yan, ang isang kapalpakan ng isang SG doctor, damay din lahat!

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  4. Replies
    1. yes ante.. sa singapore before ka pwedeng tawaging license doctor dito, dapat mag take ka muna ng exam.. yong mga license doctor natin sa pinas pagdating ng singapore automatic eh assistant lang dito :)

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    2. FYI 4:19. Hindi lang diyan sa Singapore ganyan. Bibang biba ka sa sarili mo eh no.

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    3. anon 9:17pm, oh eh di sorry! ano ba pinag uusapan dito? di ba Singapore? please huwag violent reaction agad.. unless yong article is pertaining to Doctors all around the world doon ka mag react LOL

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  5. Sana isali na rin Ang mga unapproved acting degree na nagsho show abroad

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    Replies
    1. 3:42, may acting degree pala??? Daming hindi pasado dito. For sure, nangunguna mga idols mo.

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  6. Basta yung family doctor namin mahusay! Proven and tested na!

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  7. This should serve as a wake-up call to all Pinoy doctors. Just because they passed the Medical Board exam doesn't mean that they know everything right away.

    It still takes time, training and knowledge to prescribe medicines, taking care of patients and continued learning about the patient, conditions and the like.

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    Replies
    1. Whoever said they know everything?

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    2. 8:52PM, read the article again. Wrong prescription binibigay sa patients.

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  8. Maangas talaga mga Singaporeans. Feeling superior sila amongst other asian nationalities. Ang tindi mag discriminate, taas pa standard of living sa bansa nila. Mababa tingin nila sa mga pinoys kasi dami mga kabayan na domestic helpers nila.

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    1. Korek. Maraming mayabang sa kanila lalo na yung Chinese Singaporeans. Maski nga Chinese from the mainland dini-discriminate din nila.

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    2. Wag naman natin ilahat. Madami din naman sakanila ang ok makitungo infact mas preferred ng mga locals ang mga pinoy kesa sa ibang lahi.
      Let's just say Singaporeans are (overly) protective sa country nila and their own kind. And iba ung systema nila sa education. You cannot imagine kung gano ka complicated and kahirap magaral sa sg. Bata p lang sila mabigat na yung stress na dala nila kaya ganun ung pagbigay nila ng importansya sa professions nila as if they know everything, and as if they deserve the highest power.

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    3. In other words, may attitude problem and know it all type syndrome sila. If these nationalities are good, why do they have to hire foreign doctors or other nationalities to do professional jobs for them?? They have a small country, they can manage.

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    4. Maybe Singaporeans are fed up that their country is filled with immigrants, foreigners na compared to their own citizens. Nawawala na ang national identities nila siguro.

      Most jobs are occupied by foreigners na. Strict screening and training plus national exams muna ang mga Pinoy doctors before starting their work there.

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    5. @1.14 Without the foreigners in Singapore the country will not be powerhouse that it is right now and that is a fact. Too bad that Chinese Singaporeans feel they are more entitled than others because in reality they or their forefathers were once immigrants in that country too. And how come they only look down on people from other South East Asian countries and yet they welcome white people (with or without abilities) with open arms?

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    6. Dahil sa kapalpakan ng isang Filipino doctor, all the more cautious sila sa pagrecognize ng foreign doctors. Ngayon hindi mo na sila masisi.

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    7. anon 2:23, agree with you 100%. Singapore is a small country just surviving on expat labor. Discrimination to the highest level.That's all.

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  9. Philippines needs to improve in medicine aspect. Masyadong mediocre eh at tsaka, kaya marami nagaabroad like me to take up medicine.

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    1. Obviously 6:46 is a poser or an ignoramus. We have the most competent doctors (who finished Doctor of Medicine here) who make it quite good abroad. Many doctors who studied in the Philippines even become chief residents in the U.S., and later hold high positions in their field. The Top 4 Med Schools here are excellent.

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    2. I think mas ok nmn mag aral satin kesa sa ibang bansa..ung ibang nag aral sa ibang bansa marami lg pera kaya dun sila nag aaral..dito nga sa middle east hay naku ewan ko nlng..latest technology lg sila pero ang quality ng education anlayo sa pinas..

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    3. 8:19 You are completely wrong. Filipino doctors working abroad such as in the US need to go take some courses and/or do their residency in US hospitals. They can't just work there without having US hospital residency. In a way the have to go back to school in the US.

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    4. 12:29 WRONG! WRONG! WRONG haha. My brother finished med school in Cebu, and he just took 3 grueling exams for a residency in the US. He is now a resident physician in a hospital in Chicago, IL. There absolutely NO NEED AT ALL to 'go back to school' in the US to earn a residency spot.

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    5. 6:46 The competency of anyone even in other profession has a learning curve. In the field of medicine, exposure to technological advancement could gives you an edge but you need COGNITIVE skills & good judgement as to when you use them. The clinical practice of medicine is much more than what you think it is.

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  10. 6:46, sorry hah, I beg to disagree. Maganda and maayos ang system of education sa Pinas. Kaya nga daming foreign students nag aaral sa ating bansa. We might not be number 1, but we are not left behind too. Hindi dumaan sa proper testing or quality control ang mga ganitong klaseng mga doctor na tinaggap sa Singapore. Minadali ang proseso kaya sablay in the end. Yun lang yon.

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    1. The reason kung bakit maraming foreigners ang nag-aaral sa med schools sa Pinas is because of the low tuition fee. Besides, the quality of Philippine med school grads have always been the butt of jokes in US movies and TV shows.

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    2. Well, my Tito was a known surgeon in New York. My doctor brother in law is also Basta a great job in the US. Mahaba pa yung list ko. Minsan iangat naman natin sarili natin. Wala namang naikwento kamaganak ko na naging butt of joke sila ever.

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    3. Beep, beep! Naka isang million na ko kaka paaral ng med, tapos hindi pala maganda mag med dito? Ganito na lang, sa abroad kayo magpagamot pag nagkasakit kayo ha. Hindi pala magaling mga doctor dito eh!😂😂😂

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    4. 8:58 true. Cheaper ang tuition un lang ang reason. Just like why Koreans are studying english sa Pinas kasi mas mura. Kulang ang SG sa screening kasi. Dito sa Canada you have to study here bago ka maging professional.

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  11. 8:19 at 8:15 OO, mahal ko bayan ko pero let's not be blinded naman pls na poor ang educational system natin sa bansa, pati medicine. Kaya my mom and dad sent me abroad to have a better future eh.

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    1. Hindi ka nakapasa sa entrance exam ng TOP Medical schools dito for sure.

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    2. Wow, eh di ikaw na pinagpala. Mema ka lang sabay segue ng humble brag, tse!

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    3. Bakit ka pa nag abroad if Agriculture course mo iho? Magaling mga state universitiessa atin bkit ka pa dadayo

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    4. Abroad nga, pero pipitsuging skwelahan naman sa abroad! Hahahaha

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  12. Singapore should start requiring foreign Med grads to start taking their boards. Sa Us they require them to take US medical liscensing exam so lahat pantay pantay and walang masasabi. Di naman porket us grad ok Na.

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  13. Based sa experience ko working in the medical field sa pinas at here abroad, iba ang galing ng pinoy doctors, hindi man lahat pero di hamak na mas magagaling ang mga mangagagmot naten. Resident, intern, consultant magagaling naman ang karamihan.

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  14. anon 8:58, thats why its called comedy, kasi nga joke. why did you take the series seriously? These comedy shows apologised to the Filipinos on these jokes which they did against us. Ex. Desperate Housewives. 9:27, buti ka pa, dami mong pera pang aral ng medicine sa abroad. Tingin mo pa walang kuwenta ang educ sytem natin sa Pinas. Lakas ng dating mo ah. Lakas mo maka discourage sa ibang gustong kumuha ng medicine course. Push mo yan. . Mag palit ka na din ng passport mo habang nag aaral ka sa ibang bansa tutal wala kang bilib sa Pinas at ang mga katulad nyong walang bilib sa sariing bansa ay hindi kawalan.

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