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Oral Answer by Mrs Josephine Teo Minister for Manpower to PQ on review on policy concerning medical certificates issued by Ministry-approved TCM physicians

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1948 OF 2019 FOR THE SITTING ON 3 FEBRUARY 2020
QUESTION NO. 3402 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Er Dr Lee Bee Wah


To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry can review the policy concerning medical certificates issued by Ministry-approved TCM physicians and mandate its acceptance for medical leave claims across the board.

Answer

  1. Under the Employment Act, all employers are required to grant paid outpatient sick leave to employees with medical certificates (MCs) issued by any medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act (MRA). TCM practitioners can also be registered, if they fulfil the requirements of the MRA.
  2. This is already a wider recognition of MCs. Before April 2019, employers were only required to recognise MCs if they were issued by a Government or company-appointed medical practitioner.