Please Help! Medical problem

[Pete]

Hi, I'm hoping that some kind person can help! I left Singapore last year to go to the States, and when I asked my GP/MD/local doctor in Singapore for a copy of our family's medical records to take with us to give to our new doctor, he said that he wasn't able to give them to us, apparently this was some sort of govt. directive. However, he did take my e-mail address so he could summarize the consultations/illnesses and medications that he had prescribed for us.

Unfortunately we never did receive anything and I've lost his business card. I now have a recurring symptom and I would like to have the Singapore medical info. available for my new doctor to peruse. I don't know if the medication I took in Singapore is available in the US or may have a different brand name, but I think my doctor in the States  should be informed about what I was administered in Singapore.

I've tried to get the practice phone no. via the SingTel internet directory but I'm having no luck. I would be very grateful if anyone reading this has a telephone directory and can look it up for me? The practice is called (I think) Buena Vista Medical Centre (or clinic), at the Buena Vista Shopping Centre 2nd floor, at South Buena Vista Rd (near Pasir Panjang Rd). I would also be very grateful for a fax no. too if it is listed, or/and the doctor's e-mail address; his name is Dr. Ng (can't remember the rest of his name!)

Thank you in advance!
PS. I wonder if any other expats who are leaving also have the same problem with trying to take copies of their medical records with them?      

[LynH]

I think that you need to go one step further here. I called direct enquiries and they have no listing. Maybe they have changed their name, been bought out by Bethsheda!I think that someone needs to look up a Doctors directory, go to the place where the clinic was and to ask around after Dr. Ng for you. Also if you have more info on the Doctor that would be good as Ng is a popular as Smith around here.

I would love to help you but you have just caught me on a Monday morning with a long week at work ahead. If by the weekend no one has helped you then it will be my pleasure to see what I can dig out.

 

[evehow]

Go to the Ministry of Health website, search under Health Establishment or Doctor's listing.
www.moh.gov.sg

Hope this helps.

[evehow]

I found a "Vista Medical Centre" at South Buona Vista Centre under the above Search, telephone number provided is 7780822.

Under the Doctor's Directory I found that a Dr Ng Kim Boon is practising there.  This could be the doctor you are looking for.

[suggestion]

pete:

it's NOT true that you cannot have medical records forwarded or copied.

i am singaporean but live abroad. i came back to singapore's thomson medical to have an operation done.
my doctor in thomson medical centre was the one who helpfully suggested and put together a package containing my medical history-medication etc for my doctor to follow-up here.

[Pete]

Lyn & Evehow,

Thank you so much for your prompt replies, I appreciate it greatly!

I looked up the MOH link and looked under the Ng's - there are indeed dozens of them! I then looked under clinics and after numerous attempts found that the clinic is just called the Vista Medical Centre, (the spelling of Buena Vista is spelt incorrectly in Singapore too - they use Buona) and the clinic is on the 3rd floor....fortunately this site lists the correct address, phone no. and the doctor's name too! I'll get my doctor to write or phone Dr. Ng as I guess he won't discuss my medical records over the phone.  

Actually this doctor (Ng Kim Boon) was very pleasant, he seems to have a fair number of Western patients - I would recommend him if any family can't get listed with the expat doctors at Mel & Ptnrs. in Holland Grove Road or at the Shaw Centre.

[Confused]

Just a thought... isn't a person entitled to his health record no matter what? I mean... don't we have a right to dispose with our medical records as we see fit? Is there something I am not getting here? Isn't it part of my life and my body that only I should have exclusive rights to, as opposed to my doctor/medical center?

[Ann]

We were not allowed to bring our medical records from the UK - our GP said that they are the property of the National Health Service! Actually Brits (or expats & students in the UK) are supposed to hand in their NHS cards either to their GP's practice, the FAmily Practitioner Committee or even an Immigration Officer when they leave the country for more than 6 months, so the doctors will not be paid for having you on their books. We arrived in Singapore with no medical history....

I know of no Brit who has ever done this - why, you never know when you need one when on home leave! Anyone else handed in their NHS cards?  

[evehow]

From the SMA website:  "Medical records may be regarded as aides-memoires created by the medical practitioner to assist him in the management of patient care. As such they are and remain the doctor’s own property.  By the same argument, hospital records belong to the hospital."

On the other hand, doctors are encouraged to cooperate with their patients or other doctors when such medical records are required.  But the onus is on the doctor himself.

If I'm not wrong, there're some guidelines wrt retention of medical records, and it may differ from country to country.  In Singapore, guidelines are issued by the MOH and legal requirements wrt medical record retention are also laid out in the Limitation Act.