"Following a controversy over extremely brief virtual consultations, MaNaDr Clinic has pledged to raise its standards. The clinic, whose telemedicine
“Following a controversy over extremely brief virtual consultations, MaNaDr Clinic has pledged to raise its standards. The clinic, whose telemedicine licence was revoked last December by the Ministry of Health (MOH), has announced a series of reforms aimed at regaining public trust and ensuring compliance with medical best practices.
On Wednesday (2 April), Dr Siaw Tung Yeng, co-founder and CEO of MaNaDr, stated that while the company operates primarily as a technology provider and does not directly oversee doctors or clinics, it acknowledges the MOH’s findings and intends to do better.
“As a tech platform, we are taking responsibility by setting stricter frameworks, improving our engagement with both clinics and doctors, and aligning closely with the authorities,” said Dr Siaw, as reported by CNA.
As part of its updated approach, MaNaDr will now mandate that teleconsultations must last a minimum of one minute before doctors are allowed to issue a medical certificate (MC). All virtual consultations will also be recorded, and artificial intelligence will be used to support compliance and quality checks.
This policy shift comes after public outrage when it was revealed that several consultations on MaNaDr’s platform lasted mere seconds—some reportedly only one second. Despite these ultrashort durations, patients still received prescriptions and MCs. The MOH later launched a formal investigation, halting MaNaDr’s telemedicine services by 16 August, and referred 41 doctors involved to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for potential professional misconduct. Dr Siaw said on Wednesday the clinic is still awaiting the outcome of the SMC’s inquiries.
The MOH had raised serious concerns about both patient safety and medical ethics, especially regarding prescriptions issued and the validity of MCs that were given after such brief consultations. In numerous cases, individuals had received multiple MCs within a short span, sparking worries about abuse of the system.
Moreover, the ministry pointed out that the documentation of patient visits was poorly maintained, further compromising the integrity of the clinic’s operations.
Online reaction to the clinic’s new one-minute minimum rule has been mixed. Some users on social media expressed scepticism, viewing it as a superficial fix. One sarcastic commenter compared it to a fast-food approach: “One minute? Like drive-thru medicine. Just talk faster, diagnose faster, move on.”
Another remarked, “It takes me 10 minutes to cancel a credit card. But to get an MC? Just 60 seconds?”
Beyond the clinic itself, the situation reignited debate over Singapore’s so-called “MC culture.” Critics noted that in many countries, workers aren’t required to present a doctor’s note unless they’re absent for several days, and that Singapore should consider extending more trust to its workforce.
A self-identified doctor on Reddit weighed in, stating that many users of telehealth platforms seem more interested in securing time off than receiving actual treatment. “People often begin with, ‘Hi Doc, I’m fine, just need an MC for cramps or a headache.’ That’s why this issue has spiralled—patients and doctors both have a role in this mess.”
While MaNaDr’s new measures aim to instil accountability and improve standards, the clinic remains under scrutiny, and the case has sparked wider discussions on the evolving landscape of digital healthcare in Singapore.
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