The Ministry of Health (MOH) has taken decisive action against Prudence Family Clinic, revoking its licence due to serious lapses in medication prescriptions, particularly concerning codeine cough syrups and benzodiazepines. Effective from 24 January 2024, the clinic will no longer provide outpatient services, house calls, or teleconsultations.
Licensing Violations
The clinic, located at 512 Bishan Street 13, was cited for numerous violations of the Healthcare Services Act 2020. Key issues included:
- Failure to control the prescription of codeine cough preparations and benzodiazepines.
- Neglecting to document patient health records related to these medications.
- Not ensuring patients prescribed with benzodiazepines for over eight weeks were referred to specialists.
MOH’s Findings
According to MOH, the breaches indicated a lack of internal oversight and governance. A notice regarding the licence revocation was issued on 20 December 2024, following which Prudence Family Clinic did not provide representations to contest the decision.
Impact on Patients
As a result of the licence revocation, all the clinic’s accreditations, including participation in Healthier SG and financial schemes like Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) and MediSave, will cease. MOH has advised patients affected by this decision to seek care from other accredited clinics.
Investigations Underway
Furthermore, two aiding doctors from the clinic are under investigation by the Health Sciences Authority and will also be referred to the Singapore Medical Council. This inquiry is focused on potential breaches of ethical codes related to opioid prescriptions.
MOH has reiterated its commitment to monitoring outpatient medical service providers and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements to safeguard public health.