SMA Secretariat Office – operations from 19 June 2020 onwards
Despite the reopening of more workplaces in Phase 2, the Multi–Ministry Taskforce has reiterated that safe management measures and telecommuting must remain the default for all businesses. The SMA Secretariat Office will thus remain closed until further notice.
Nonetheless, the Secretariat will continue to provide the more essential membership services, as it has been during the circuit breaker.
For general enquiries, you can contact us at: Members can also call our main line at 6223 1264 or the staff's direct line.
Professional indemnity
MPS: 800 616 7055 (toll–free) / mps@sma.org.sg Income MMI: 6223 1264 / sma@sma.org.sg JLT Medefend Scheme: 6411 9002 / website: http://www.medefend.com.sg
Membership matters
Email membership@sma.org.sg, or call the following numbers
New sign ups, renewals and Medik Awas: 6540 9193
Clinic assistant courses, update of personal information and other general queries: 6540 9194
SMJ
Email smj@sma.org.sg
SMA News
Email news@sma.org.sg, or call 6540 9181
For the latest updates, please visit https://www.sma.org.sg.
Government indemnity coverage for healthcare workers deployed to WOG COVID-19 efforts
SMA is glad that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has clarified, via an advisory on 26 April 2020, to the extent not covered by any existing insurance, indemnity or compensation schemes, the Government of the Republic of Singapore will indemnify anything done or omitted to be done in good faith and with reasonable care by all medical practitioners and healthcare workers, in the discharge or purported discharge of their functions and duties in relation to Whole-of-Government (WOG) efforts to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Members are reminded that in any incident, you must notify both your indemnity provider and MOH.
SMA wrote to MOH to request a Point of Contact (POC) from which doctors can obtain urgent advice and notify details of incidents to. We have been informed that the first POC should be the Healthcare Institution (eg, public sector cluster) that deployed you. The Institution will assist in investigating and managing incidents, as well as informing the Institution's indemnity providers and MOH. We are also advised that for any other queries, you may email moh_qsm@moh.gov.sg.
Childcare arrangements for healthcare workers
Many doctors' care arrangements for their children were disrupted by schools/pre-schools closures and the disallowing of children from being dropped off at grandparents' homes announced on 10 April 2020. SMA formally wrote to the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on COVID-19 to express our concerns and propose arrangements for the Taskforce's consideration.
SMA was heartened that the Taskforce subsequently granted exemptions to parents who are essential service workers or healthcare professionals to continue to tap on grandparents for childcare support on a daily basis. Cases eligible for exemptions include:
- Both parents are essential service workers and are unable to work from home;
- One parent is a healthcare professional (eg, doctor, nurse, allied health professional, support care staff) and is unable to work from home;
- One parent is an essential service worker who is unable to work from home, and has a child/children below the age of three.