"However, as the settlements were undertaken with non-disclosure requirements, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is unable to determine the true nature of these cases".
Given that public hospitals are funded by public funds, I believe that MOH has the obligation to make available for public scrutiny, the total (if not individual) payouts for such claims.
Certainly more accountability is necessary rather then just other ministers making unscrupulous, unsubstantiated claims like so reported:
"Dr Balaji Sadasivan promises lower healthcare costs if PAP given strong mandate"
Title : Hospitals make an average 8 out-of-court settlement cases a year
Date : 20 January 2009 1557 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/403696/1/.html
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said there were on average eight cases a year where the hospitals made an out-of-court settlement with the patients as part of the mediation process.
In these cases, the hospital or staff concerned might have had some liability or were negligent.
However, as the settlements were undertaken with non-disclosure requirements, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is unable to determine the true nature of these cases.
Mr Khaw gave this update in a written answer to a parliament question by Ang Mo Kio MP Lee Bee Wah on the incidence of medical negligence at public hospitals.
He said heavy demand on public hospitals should not be an excuse for any act of medical negligence.
A healthcare professional may be found negligent by the court if he fails to exercise reasonable diligence and care when providing treatment and causes injury to his patient as a result.
Ms Lee also asked about the procedures in place to detect such negligence.
Mr Khaw said hospitals have in place a Sentinel Event Reporting System where the hospitals' Quality Assurance Committee will promptly look into any alleged case of medical negligence.
In the review, the committee will determine the root causes, recommend strategies to reduce risk and follow up on their implementation.
The MOH will be notified of all such reviews and it will monitor the follow-up actions to ensure that the corrective measures are put in place and that useful lessons are shared with the healthcare community.
Mr Khaw added that not all claims of medical negligence are valid. Some adverse outcomes happen in hospitals despite the best efforts and may not be due to medical negligence.
For example, a patient can develop a serious drug allergy after receiving an antibiotic for the first time. This may be an acceptable adverse outcome of the drug. - CNA/vm