I refer to the report, "Mindef says late NSF did not submit MC"(mypaper,Oct3).

I believe that there are other national servicemen who were issued with a medical certificate (MC) by doctors outside their camp, but who chose not to submit the MC to their superiors or medical centre at their camp.

The obvious reason is that the medical certificates issued by doctors outside the camp are treated with suspicion until it is verified and endorsed by an army medical officer (captain).

A national serviceman who is issued with an MC by a non-army doctor is still required to report sick and go through the sick parade.

He is required to queue at the medical centre, and to be re-examined by the army doctor before the MC is endorsed.

Only then can the MC be officially accepted by his superiors. The army doctor has the final say on the validity of the medical certificate and may alter it if necessary.

The standard operating procedure for reporting sick is aimed at weeding out malingerers.

However, it also deters soldiers who are genuinely ill from reporting sick as they may not want to go through the hassle of getting the MC endorsed.

Under Section 15 of the Medical Registration Act, an MC shall be valid if it is signed by a person who is registered under the Act and who has a valid practising certificate.

Therefore, in the wake of this incident, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) should consider how the MCs issued by registered doctors may be accepted at face value without causing inconvenience to soldiers.

To deter malingerers, the army doctor's endorsement could be required only for MCs which grant soldiers over a week of medical leave.

Mindef should also encourage soldiers who are sick to speak up and report sick. The mindset of treating such soldiers with suspicion should change over time so as to prevent similar tragedies from recurring.

Mr Goh Kian Huat

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