Referrals by MSWs to Medical Service Providers

6 August 2024

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NOTICE PAPER NO. 2883

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 6 AUGUST 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

A/Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

MP for Sengkang GRC

Question No. 6261

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the average waiting time for patients referred by medical social workers to medical service providers, such as doctors or specialists, to obtain appointments; and (b) whether this matching process is triaged in any way for urgent cases.

Answer

1 Medical social workers (MSWs) in public healthcare institutions (PHIs) do not refer patients directly to doctors in polyclinics and public hospitals. Patients typically make direct appointments with polyclinics, or are referred by family physicians to see specialists.