A foreign doctor in Singapore has been fined by Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for unauthorized locum (stand-in doctor) work.
Queck Kian Kheng, a neurologist at Mount Alvernia Hospital, was given a hefty fine for working illegally as a part-time locum doctor. Queck performed locum duties at 25 different clinics over 511 instances between Nov. 9, 2016, and May 1, 2019, without a valid work pass that would permit such practice.
The employment law in Singapore is firm on the necessity for proper work permits, including foreign medical professionals who consider taking up locum doctor jobs. Queck’s instance is a reminder of the responsibilities medical professionals bear in adhering to the strict regulatory environments, even as they seek to broaden their experience.
According to Queck’s lawyer, his locum engagements were “not primarily profit-motivated”, but aimed to “improve his clinical skills and broaden his medical knowledge during his free time”. However, the SMC disciplinary tribunal challenged this, pointing out the considerable long period over which the offences took place reflected a degree of indifference. It also questioned why Queck did not volunteer his medical services, if his actions were not mainly profit-driven.
When considering locum doctor contracts, it is essential that both the hiring clinic and the doctor have a mutual understanding of the terms, and more importantly, that those terms comply with regulatory requirements. Disregarding these can lead to significant penalties, as seen in the S$50,000 additional fine imposed on Queck by the SMC disciplinary tribunal to the previously fined S$70,000 by a district court.
