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Can I Buy an MC in Singapore? Medical Certificate Rules for Teleconsults
No, you cannot buy an MC in Singapore. Learn why a Medical Certificate must follow a proper in-clinic or teleconsultation assessment, what doctors can charge for, and how online doctors issue DigiMCs ethically.
Digital Health Clinic·19 Jun 2026·8 min read
No. You cannot buy an MC in Singapore. A Medical Certificate, or MC, is not a retail item. It is a medico-legal document issued by a doctor after an appropriate consultation and clinical assessment. The consultation can happen in person or through a properly run teleconsultation, but the MC itself cannot be sold, guaranteed, or issued just because a patient asks for one.
This distinction matters for patients searching for teleconsultation, teleconsult, telemedicine, online doctor, online consult, Medical Certificate, and MC services. What you pay for is the doctor's time and clinical assessment. If the doctor decides you are medically unfit for work or school, an MC may be issued. If the assessment does not support sick leave, a responsible doctor should not issue one.
Short answer: no, MCs are not something you buy
MOH Circular 30/2024 reminds doctors and outpatient medical service licensees that MCs must be issued only on proper medical grounds after good clinical assessment. It also says this applies regardless of whether the consultation is physical or remote. In plain language: an online consult can lead to an MC, but only if the doctor has assessed you and the medical facts justify it.
That is why phrases like buy MC Singapore, guaranteed MC, or MC without consultation are red flags. They frame the certificate as the product, when the legitimate service is the consultation.
Why selling MCs is unsafe and non-compliant
The Singapore Medical Council's MC guidance is clear: medical certificates must be written objectively, accurately, and in good faith. MOH has also acted against telemedicine practices where very short teleconsultations ended with medicines and MCs being issued, raising concerns about whether certificates were issued on sound medical grounds.
A doctor who rubber-stamps MCs without proper assessment risks professional disciplinary action. A patient who uses a false or improperly obtained document may also face employment, school, insurance, or legal consequences. The safest rule is simple: do not look for a provider that sells MCs. Look for a provider that performs a proper consultation.
What can a clinic or online doctor charge for?
A clinic can charge for the medical consultation, medication, delivery, tests, and other legitimate services. The Singapore Medical Council states that it does not issue guidelines on doctors' fees and charges, so there is no official single Singapore-wide average consultation price. Prices vary by clinic, time of day, patient category, and whether medicines or delivery are included.
Useful public reference points:
- SingHealth Polyclinics lists adult Singapore Citizen medical consultation at S$18.50, with different rates for children, elderly patients, PRs, and non-residents.
- NHG Polyclinics also lists adult Singapore Citizen general clinic consultation at S$18.50, with higher rates for PRs and non-residents.
- Published private GP examples vary. Accord Medical Clinic lists weekday family medicine consultation at S$25 to S$32, while Raffles Medical's 24-hour clinic lists daytime weekday consultation from S$31.61, before medication and other items.
For telemedicine, publicly advertised GP video consult rates also vary. ReallySick.sg advertises online doctor video calls from S$11. HMI/MHC states a S$20 consultation fee for unaffiliated patients, plus delivery and other charges where relevant. Raffles Connect lists teleconsultation at S$25 nett from 8am to 10pm and S$35 nett after 10pm. DigitalHealth.sg's weekday teleconsult fee is S$15 nett, with medication and delivery charged separately if needed.
The practical takeaway: compare the total consultation pathway, not whether an MC is promised. The MC should never be the thing being sold.
Can a teleconsult doctor issue an MC?
Yes, if the teleconsult is clinically appropriate and the doctor decides the patient is medically unfit. HealthHub explains that after a teleconsulting session, a doctor may issue an MC or prescribe medicines, but MCs are only issued when medically necessary and based on proper clinical assessment.
For new patients, MOH's MC circular highlights that real-time, two-way audio-visual communication, such as a video consultation, must be used for remote outpatient medical services. If the doctor cannot assess the condition safely online, the patient should be directed to an in-person consultation.
What should happen in a legitimate online MC consult?
- Identity check. The provider verifies your identity using Singpass, NRIC, passport, or other suitable documents.
- Symptom history. The doctor asks what happened, when it started, severity, red flags, medical history, medicines, and allergies.
- Video assessment. The doctor uses live video when needed to assess whether teleconsultation is suitable.
- Clinical decision. The doctor explains whether you need rest, medication, in-person care, urgent care, or no MC.
- Document issuance if justified. If sick leave is medically appropriate, the MC should include accountable doctor details such as name and MCR number.
If a provider skips the assessment and goes straight to selling a certificate, avoid it.
How do DigiMCs prove they are real?
DigiMC is the official digital medical certificate platform. The DigiMC FAQ says a digital MC is the online version of a paper MC and is accessed via a unique link under the mc.gov.sg domain. The employer FAQ says a legitimate DigiMC should show the doctor's name and MCR number, and printed or downloaded copies can be checked through the link or QR code.
A valid DigiMC does not need a wet-ink signature. It is authenticated through the official domain and doctor details. That still does not make it a product for sale. It remains a clinical certificate issued after consultation.
Warning signs of an unsafe MC provider
- Advertises a guaranteed MC before any consultation.
- Offers an MC without video or meaningful assessment.
- Uses vague phrases like buy MC or instant MC as the main offer.
- Does not identify licensed doctors or provide clinic accountability details.
- Cannot explain when teleconsultation is unsuitable.
- Issues repeated MCs without reviewing whether in-person care is needed.
What to do instead if you are sick
If you are genuinely unwell and your symptoms are mild or non-urgent, use a licensed telemedicine provider or visit a clinic. Tell the doctor honestly what you are feeling and what work or school duties you cannot safely perform. If you are fit for duty, ask your employer about annual leave, urgent leave, or a certificate of attendance instead of trying to buy an MC.
If your symptoms are severe - chest pain, breathlessness, stroke-like symptoms, severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, confusion, or a very unwell child - do not use an online consult. Call 995 or seek urgent in-person care.
Sources reviewed
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy an MC without seeing a doctor?
No. An MC must be issued by a doctor after proper clinical assessment. Any service selling an MC without a real consultation is unsafe and likely non-compliant.
Can I get an MC from a teleconsult?
Yes, if a licensed online doctor assesses you by teleconsultation and decides sick leave is medically appropriate. The MC is not guaranteed before the consult.
Is the teleconsult fee an MC fee?
No. The fee is for the online doctor consultation and clinical assessment. If an MC is medically justified, it may be issued as part of the care pathway.
What if I only need proof that I attended a clinic?
If you are well but need proof of attendance, ask for a certificate of attendance or time chit. An MC is for medical unfitness, not ordinary appointment attendance.
Are DigiMCs accepted by employers?
DigiMCs issued by SMC-registered doctors are legitimate medical certificates. Employers can verify DigiMCs by checking that the link is under mc.gov.sg and that the doctor name and MCR number are shown.
