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Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Providing medical concierge services may not address patients' needs
A recent Opinion piece on healthcare costs (Some practical ways to rein in rising healthcare costs, premiums, May 21) mentioned how insurers can provide medical concierge services to direct patients to specialist doctors, based on their Integrated Shield Plans. As a general practitioner (GP) since 1985, I have always referred my patients to specialists within their budget who I personally know have the skill sets that are relevant to their specific medical issues. For example, I would refer a young female patient with an enlarged thyroid gland to a surgeon I know is specially noted for neat, fine scars. A young man likely to need prostate surgery for possible cancer would be sent to a urologist I know is exceptionally careful about conserving urinary continence and erectile function. And I would send a patient with recurring bladder cancer to a hospital with a large multidisciplinary urology department – because I foresee that the patient will eventually need care available in an integrated group. All this care in matching patients' needs with surgeons' skill sets can be wiped out by medical concierges referring patients to other specialists – with choices based on 'lower charges'. Of course, it can be said that all general surgeons can do thyroid surgery competently, or all urologists can do a prostatectomy competently upon completing their specialist training. But while all surgeons and all hospitals are competent, some are exceptional, and this matters in more complex cases. That is why many GPs try to match an individual patient's medical needs to doctors with specific skill sets. In contrast, a medical concierge could simply locate another specialist who could be charging less and shunt the patient there, indifferent that the patient could have had a better outcome with the original specialist. Is this acceptable? Dr Lee Pheng Soon Former president of the Singapore Medical Association More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Financial advisers must adhere to high ethical standards and industry regulations
Forum: Financial advisers must adhere to high ethical standards and industry regulations We thank Dr Tan Yia Swam for her letter 'Insurance agents asking doctors to change codes to ensure claims go through' (April 17) and refer to the Ministry of Health's reply 'MOH will review MediShield Life coverage for prophylactic mastectomy' ( April 22). We would like to provide more context regarding Integrated Shield Plans (IPs), preventive treatments and ethical guidelines for financial adviser representatives. IPs offer coverage for hospitalisation, surgery and selected outpatient treatments on top of MediShield Life coverage. As IPs are today designed to cover medically necessary treatments, treatments and procedures that are preventive in nature are not claimable. IP insurers are constantly seeking ways to balance the scope of coverage with premium affordability and sustainability for policyholders. Benefits and coverages are reviewed from time to time, taking into consideration advancements in clinical practice and medical science. We note that the Ministry of Health is undertaking a review of the matter. IP insurers will review the scope of IP coverage accordingly. Financial adviser representatives play a key role in providing advice to their clients on insurance products, including IPs, and must adhere to high ethical standards and industry regulations. If consumers or healthcare practitioners encounter potential misconduct, including being pressured to misrepresent medical codes for claims, they should provide the details to the relevant insurers for further investigation and action. We recognise the complexity of the situation and good intentions of all parties involved. The life insurance industry is committed to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to best address the needs of policyholders equitably. Chan Wai Kit Executive Director Life Insurance Association, Singapore More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
