5. Licences for private hospitals, medical clinics, clinical laboratories and healthcare establishments

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2001.

(1)

Any premises or conveyance must not be used as a private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment except under the authority and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence issued by the Director.

(2)

If a private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment is not licensed or is used otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions of its licence, every person having the management or control thereof shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(3)

The Director may order the person having the management or control of any unlicensed private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment to close that private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment either forthwith or within the time that the Director specifies.

(4)

If the person to whom an order is given under subsection (3) fails to comply with the order —

(a)

the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction; and

(b)

the Director may take such measures as the Director thinks necessary to secure the closure of the unlicensed private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment.

Terms defined in s 2

clinical laboratory
Defined · s 2
“clinical laboratory” means any premises used or intended to be used for any type of examination of the human body or of any matter derived from the human body for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of any disease or for the assessment of the health of any person, or for ascertaining the cause of death or the result of any medical or surgical treatment given to any person, but does not include any such premises —(a)which are maintained by the Government or the National University of Singapore;(b)which form part of the premises of a licensed private hospital; or(c)which are maintained by a medical practitioner or dentist as part of his or her medical clinic for the exclusive use of his or her practice;
Open s 2
Director
Defined · s 2
“Director” means the Director of Medical Services;
Open s 2
healthcare establishment
Defined · s 2
“healthcare establishment” means any premises or conveyance —(a)which is used or intended to be used for the provision of any service, or for carrying out any practice or procedure, that is related to the diagnosis, treatment or care of persons suffering from any disease, injury or disability; and(b)which is declared by the Minister, by order in the Gazette, to be a healthcare establishment for the purposes of this Act,but does not include a private hospital, medical clinic or clinical laboratory or part thereof, or an establishment or conveyance maintained by the Government or the National University of Singapore;
Open s 2
licence
Defined · s 2
“licence” means a licence issued under this Act to use any premises or conveyance as a private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment, and “licensed” is to be construed accordingly;
Open s 2
medical clinic
Defined · s 2
“medical clinic” means any premises used or intended to be used by a medical practitioner, a dentist or any other person —(a)for the diagnosis or treatment of persons suffering from, or believed to be suffering from, any disease, injury or disability of mind or body; or(b)for curing or alleviating any abnormal condition of the human body by the application of any apparatus, equipment, instrument or device requiring the use of electricity, heat or light,but does not include any such premises —(c)which are maintained by the Government or the National University of Singapore; or(d)which form part of the premises of a licensed private hospital;
Open s 2
private hospital
Defined · s 2
“private hospital” means any premises used or intended to be used for the reception, lodging and treatment and care of persons who require medical treatment or suffer from any disease, and includes a maternity home and a nursing home.
Open s 2

Report

Read on from s 6