SINGAPORE: Family medicine will be recognised by the Specialists Accreditation Board as Singapore's 36th medical specialty from Nov 1, with the move supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
This is a significant step in affirming the contributions of family physicians in Singapore, MOH said on Friday (Oct 31), adding that family physicians with advanced clinical competencies already play a pivotal role in integrated care.
"This recognition will also provide a clear pathway to specialist accreditation for family physicians with advanced training and raise the standards of primary and community care," the ministry said in a media release.
Family physicians who have attained the Fellowship of College of Family Physicians (Singapore) will be invited to be in the first batch to apply for the new specialist accreditation.
According to MOH, there are currently over 200 registered family physicians who have received this fellowship. Fellowship holders will need to meet clinical practice criteria demonstrating currency of practice to qualify for the specialist accreditation.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said: "This is an important policy move as Singapore ages, and we shift the centre of gravity of our healthcare system away from hospitals to the community; from tertiary and secondary to primary care; and from curative treatment to management and prevention".
Family doctors are essential to this shift, Mr Ong said, as they are at the frontline of healthcare.
"They are our trusted advisers who help us manage our health and stay healthy. They also play an important role in coordinating multi-disciplinary care in the community," he said in a Facebook post.
Family physicians who have already received the fellowship or who are conferred it between now and Nov 30 will have 12 months from Nov 1 to submit their accreditation applications to the Specialists Accreditation Board. Meanwhile, applicants who receive the fellowship after Nov 30 will have six months from the date they are conferred the fellowship to submit their applications.
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This is a significant step in affirming the contributions of family physicians in Singapore, MOH said on Friday (Oct 31), adding that family physicians with advanced clinical competencies already play a pivotal role in integrated care.
"This recognition will also provide a clear pathway to specialist accreditation for family physicians with advanced training and raise the standards of primary and community care," the ministry said in a media release.
Family physicians who have attained the Fellowship of College of Family Physicians (Singapore) will be invited to be in the first batch to apply for the new specialist accreditation.
According to MOH, there are currently over 200 registered family physicians who have received this fellowship. Fellowship holders will need to meet clinical practice criteria demonstrating currency of practice to qualify for the specialist accreditation.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said: "This is an important policy move as Singapore ages, and we shift the centre of gravity of our healthcare system away from hospitals to the community; from tertiary and secondary to primary care; and from curative treatment to management and prevention".
Family doctors are essential to this shift, Mr Ong said, as they are at the frontline of healthcare.
"They are our trusted advisers who help us manage our health and stay healthy. They also play an important role in coordinating multi-disciplinary care in the community," he said in a Facebook post.
Family physicians who have already received the fellowship or who are conferred it between now and Nov 30 will have 12 months from Nov 1 to submit their accreditation applications to the Specialists Accreditation Board. Meanwhile, applicants who receive the fellowship after Nov 30 will have six months from the date they are conferred the fellowship to submit their applications.
Continue reading...