The Guide for getting a medical certificate of a MC online in singapore
All of us fall sick sometimes, even the best of us! Most schools and workplaces in Singapore require us to produce a medical certificate (MC) to prove that we are sick.
This is a comprehensive guide on getting a MC online in Singapore.
What is a MC?
A MC is also equivalent to sick leave that you must produce to account for your absence of work or school. You can only obtain a MC from a Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Medical Council (SMC) registered doctor. The doctor will issue the MC when the doctor deems that you are too sick to perform your duty. Sometimes, a MC is given to limit spread of contagious illness.
Traditionally, the doctor would have to ask you a series of questions followed by an examination before they issue a MC. Nowadays, the Ministry Of Health (MOH), has learnt that minor illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with telemedicine after the COVID pandemic.
In some situations, you may request for a Light Duty MC that would excuse you from physical activities e.g: carrying of heavy load(s).
Why do I need to produce a MC?
“I need to get a MC for missing a class or exam” seems to be a common reason to need to get a MC in Singapore. Schools often require students to produce a MC for illness. In most cases, the condition is contagious and can spread to other students.
Going to school while you have a fever is discouraged and highly frowned upon. In Jan 2023, there was an influenza outbreak in schools as students went to school while still being contagious. So make sure you get sufficient rest before returning back to school.
Some schools may accept parents’ letters in place of a MC. Yet, if your child fall sick frequently, the school may raise concerns over the safety of your child. Especially if the child has not sought professional help for his prolonged illness.
For working adults in Singapore, most companies would expect you to give a MC if you missed work due to a sickness. MC could be due to fever, cough, sore throat, headache, mental illness, pain or a chronic illness.
As most employees are protected by the Employment Act, which entitles you to paid sick leave, having a MC in the record will avoid any ambiguity. A MC represents a medical opinion and if it is “denied” by your company, you should know your rights and seek redress via a union or seek legal advice.
How to get a MC in Singapore?
You have to visit a doctor in Singapore. That visit can be done online as well.
In the past, a MC could only be obtained at a physical clinic. You go to the nearby polyclinic or family clinic to see the doctor. Recently these clinics have become very busy due to government initiatives to care for more older patients. As a result, the waiting time to see these doctors in person can be as long as 2-3 hours.
After COVID, MOH has recognised the role of telemedicine for mild or simple illnesses.
Getting a MC online in Singapore serves to alleviate the stress on the medical system by diverting patients away from the physical clinic(s). Telemedicine platforms can issue both medicines and MCs just like physical clinics
Get a MC online in Singapore
Fortunately, now we are able to see a doctor online. Since the advent of telemedicine, you are now able to do that in your own home comfortably.
You can download our RapiDr app and request for a consultation anytime, anywhere from just $8.90! We open 365 days a year including all weekends and public holidays.
Steps for getting a MC online in Singapore
You must be unwell and require a MC. Common reasons why Singaporeans fall really sick would be from stress, headache, running nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhea and fever.
Download the RapiDr app and request for a consultation. Prepare to tell the doctor what is stopping you from going to work or school.
Wait for the doctor to issue you the MC if the doctor deems you to be genuinely sick.
All documents and medication prescription will be instantly accessible through the RapiDr app once you complete the consultation.
Tips for you before getting a MC online in Singapore
Find a private and quiet space, to protect your own privacy.
Prepare your physical NRIC or identification as the doctor will need to verify your identity.
Try to explain all your symptoms and when they started.
Be polite and explain your condition(s) clearly to the doctor.
Red Flags?
Below are 5 red flags of platforms that you should avoid.
Bad review for slow, missing or erroneous medicine delivery
Telemedicine platforms are required to conduct regular audits to ensure that the process of dispensing, packing and delivery of medications to be efficient and accurate. Missing deliveries do not just affect your health, they also put you at risk of leaking your personal information.Allow consultation without live video
MOH has made 2 way video consultation mandatory for patient safety. Any telemedicine company that skip the video consultation will get into trouble and so will its consulting patients.Unresponsive customer service
It is frustrating when you are not well and you have trouble downloading the MC that your boss is asking for. Or if you are feeling really sick and have no idea and have no updates on when the medications will arrive.Offers no medications
A telemedicine platform that offers no medications can be associated with the sole purpose of ‘selling MC’. You would not want to be seen as faking your illness or ‘buying MC’ from such a platform.Non-transparent pricing
Imagine the frustration of using a website listing a rate fixed price but then finding out you will be charged more than double for medications and memos! Always choose a platform that is upfront with transparent pricing and does not charge extra for providing you with comprehensive healthcare during every teleconsultation especially when you are really sick.
Can I buy a MC in Singapore?
No, it is not legal or possible to buy a MC in Singapore. MC represents the medical opinion given by the doctor and thus MCs are only given after a consultation.
However, you can easily “buy” a medical consultation whether it’s online or with a physical clinic. With the easy access to online consultations on multiple telemedicine platforms available, you can raise a consult on demand at any time of the day!
Doctors will issue a MC with no additional cost after the medical consult. However, you must have a medical condition or feel really sick before the doctor will be able to certify you as too unwell to work or perform your normal duties at school.
Besides, ‘buying’ a MC might put you at risk of committing forgery as well as put the doctor at risk of breaching the SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines.
What makes a MC valid?
A valid MC requires the following:
Serial number for validation of authenticity
Type of medical leave (For example, sick leave, light duty, excuse swimming)
Date of issue of MC
Duration of leave given
Name of the doctor
MCR of the doctor
Your own name and identification number
All of our MC come with a QR code that can be scanned for verification.
Is the digital MC from rapidr valid?
The MC from RapiDr fulfills all requirements as set out by MOH.
Legal implication of a MC
The Singapore Medical Council (“SMC”) Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines governs the MC.
Some quirks about MC
The doctor cannot issue an MC for a previous date (backdate)
You should always get a MC on the day that you start to fall sick. Doctors will not backdate a MC, or give a MC starting from a date before the consult.
The doctor cannot amend the MC of another doctor
A MC represents a medical opinion and is a medicolegal document, and cannot be amended by other doctors once issued. Only the issuing doctor can make reasonable amendments. The doctor can only state the diagnosis on the MC upon your request. Your employer do not have rights to access your medical records without your permission.
Will a doctor deny me a MC if I have taken too many days off?
In general, doctors are not investigators. We trust the patient’s self reported symptoms and will issue you a MC. If your illness is taking longer than usual to recover, doctors will usually be understanding and extend your MC upon reasonable review.
If your doctor notices that you are requesting an MC too frequently, he may refer you to an in-person review to assess your condition more thoroughly. We also conduct regular audits to highlight cases in which MCs are issued too frequently. You can always visit one of our panel clinics for a subsidised rate with a referral memo within 48 hours.
However, your health records are not shared between telemedicine platforms and it is difficult for a doctor to ascertain the frequency of the MCs requested. Worse so if the patient is unable to recall the days and dates that the doctor had the MCs taken.
Doctors want to give you a benefit of doubt, getting too many MCs online will raise the suspicion that you either have a serious medical condition or that you might not be genuinely sick. Both of which require a more thorough medical examination or face to face consultation.
How will I receive medications if I choose telemedicine?
Most telemedicine platforms are able to dispense medications. Your online doctor will consult and prescribe you with medications suitable for your condition.
We will pack these medications in a tamper-proof bag to deliver to your house. Depending on your telemedicine provider and traffic conditions, expect some waiting time for your medications to arrive. Most telemedicine platforms aim to deliver within 4 hours. In the event that the medication that you request is not in the inventory, your doctor may suggest alternative medications or refund your consultation. If you require your medications instantly, it is advisable that you visit a physical clinic, as delivery timings are not always predictable.
What are the benefits of online doctor consultation over consultations face-to-face?
There are several scenarios where seeing a doctor online is better than in person.
Odd hours
Clinics usually operate in the working hours only. If you sleep in due to your illness and wake up only at 9pm. Most clinics would have closed. It might be better to get a MC online.Bad diarrhea, need toilet…
You need the toilet too frequently, and find it hard to walk somewhere far and wait in the clinic.Simple illness, have medications at home and just need a MC online
So that you can rest at home, and the illness will usually recover by itself. Going to a clinic to wait and squeeze in with other patients might make you more sick.Poor access to healthcare
Some of us stay in secluded or hard to reach areas such as Jurong Island or even in Johor Bahru. It may take hours to reach the nearest Singapore clinic.
The rise of telemedicine in Singapore
In 2018, Senior Minister of State Dr Lam Pin Min, started a telemedicine sandbox program under the Licensing Experimentation and Adaptation Programme (LEAP) to test out telemedicine and mobile medicine in Singapore.
From 2023, the healthcare services act (HCSA) has begun licensing telemedicine under outpatient medical services (OMS), remote modes of service delivery (MOSD).
At the height of COVID in 2021, Singapore initiated the home recovery program (HRP) as the default care arrangement for patients with mild COVID symptoms. The HRP was a telemedicine service that provided support for COVID patients recovering at home.
Search here to find if your provider is properly licensed to provide a MC online in Singapore.
