Professional Indemnity Plans for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

10 March 2015

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin
MP for Potong Pasir

Question No. 216
To ask the Minister for Health, in view of the withdrawal of incidence-occurrence medical indemnity plans by the UK-based Medical Protection Society (MPS), resulting in obstetricians and gynaecologists (OGs) being unable to secure adequate professional indemnity insurance, what are the measures that the Ministry is considering to address this situation of professional indemnity plans for OGs.

Written Reply
1    The Medical Protection Society announced its intention to change the medical indemnity cover for obstetricians and gynaecologists from occurrence-based to claims-based cover. Occurrence-based cover would cover the practitioner for incidents that occurred during the period that they paid membership or premiums, regardless of when the claim for the incident is made.  In claims-based cover, a practitioner is only covered for claims made during the period of cover paid for.  Compared to occurrence-based cover, the membership fees for obstetricians are expected to be lower under claims-based coverage.

2    A practitioner will need to purchase tail cover if he wishes to remain protected for any claims made after the period of cover has ended.  MPS has indicated that tail cover (run-off cover), which is available in five-year blocks, enables it to price coverage more accurately.

3    MOH is looking into this matter and is in discussion with the stakeholders representing the obstetricians and gynaecologists to address their concerns.