Functions of SMC

Overview

Section 5 of the Medical Registration Act 1997 states that the functions of the SMC are to:

• keep and maintain registers of registered medical practitioners;

• approve or reject applications for medical registration under the MRA or to approve any such application subject to such restrictions as it may think fit;

• issue practising certificates to registered medical practitioners;

• make recommendations to the appropriate authorities on the courses of instructions and examinations leading to the Singapore degree;

• make recommendations to the appropriate authorities for the training and education of registered medical practitioners;

• determine and regulate the conduct and ethics of registered medical practitioners; and

• generally do all such acts and matters and things as are necessary to be carried out under the MRA.

Constitution

Pursuant to section 4 of the Medical Registration Act 1997, the Singapore Medical Council consists of the following members:

• the Director-General of Health;

• a member of the Academy of Medicine Singapore appointed by the Minister, who is the Master of the Academy or is a member of the council of the Academy nominated by the Master of the Academy;

• a member of the College of Family Physicians Singapore appointed by the Minister, who is the President of the College or a member of the council of the College nominated by the President of the College;

• a member of the Singapore Medical Association appointed by the Minister, who is the President of the Association or a member of the Association nominated by the President of the Association;

• a member of the faculty of each prescribed medical school in Singapore appointed by the Minister who is the dean of the prescribed medical school or is nominated by the Dean;

• 12 registered medical practitioners resident n Singapore who are elected by the fully registered medical practitioners resident in Singapore; and

• 8 registered medical practitioners resident in Singapore who are appointed by the Minister.

Council members

The SMC currently comprises 27 members. Besides the Director of Medical Services, who is the Registrar of the Council, 12 of the members are elected by registered medical practitioners and the others are appointed by the Minister for Health.

The Council members are:

Election of SMC members

Every fully-registered medical practitioner resident in Singapore who has in force a practising certificate on the day of election of candidates as members of the Medical Council shall vote for the election of such members at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.