Can I Get a Free Digital MC in Singapore? DigiMC, Teleconsult and Fees
A free digital MC is not a shortcut around consultation. Learn when DigiMCs have no separate document fee, when consultation fees apply, and how teleconsultation, employer reimbursement, CHAS and online doctor pricing work in Singapore.
Digital Health Clinic·19 Jun 2026·8 min read
DigiMC may be issued digitally after consultation, but it is never a free pass to skip proper assessment.
Sometimes you can receive a digital MC with no separate document fee, but you cannot get a free MC without a consultation. In Singapore, a Medical Certificate is issued by a doctor after assessment. The digital format, often called DigiMC, is simply the online version of the certificate. It does not remove the need for an in-clinic consultation, teleconsultation, or other appropriate clinical review.
So if you are searching for free digital MC, free MC Singapore, online doctor MC, online consult MC, teleconsult MC, or telemedicine Medical Certificate, the ethical answer is: the MC is not the product. The consultation is the medical service. The doctor may issue a digital MC only when medically necessary.
MC questions
Need a legitimate DigiMC assessment?
MCs are issued only after a doctor decides you are medically unfit. Learn the rules, then consult if you need clinical review.
Short answer: free document, not free medical assessment
The DigiMC FAQ says digital MCs are MCs issued by your doctor and accessed through a unique link under the mc.gov.sg domain. HealthHub says MCs after teleconsultation are issued only when medically necessary and based on proper clinical assessment. MOH Circular 30/2024 says MC issuance is a clinical decision and must be based on good clinical assessment, regardless of consultation mode.
That means a digital MC may be delivered at no extra document charge after a legitimate consult, but you still need to see a doctor. The doctor may also decide not to issue an MC.
When might a digital MC feel free?
There are a few situations where the patient may pay nothing extra for the MC document itself:
The clinic includes MC issuance in the consultation workflow. If medically appropriate, the doctor issues a DigiMC as part of the visit rather than selling it separately.
Your employer or insurer covers the consultation. The consultation is still being paid for, but not necessarily by you out of pocket.
You visit a public institution and request a paper copy on the same day. SingHealth states that patients who still require a paper MC can request one within the same day after consultation or discharge at no charge, with admin fees applying later for reprints.
Your company has a panel clinic or corporate teleconsult benefit. Some employers cover online doctor consults directly or reimburse them.
None of these mean an MC can be generated for free without seeing a doctor.
When will you still pay?
You usually pay for the consultation if you are using a private clinic or private teleconsult service. You may also pay for medication, delivery, after-hours service, or other documents. If your employer reimburses the consultation, that is a separate employment benefit, not a free MC service.
MOM says an employer must reimburse medical consultation fees in specific paid-sick-leave situations if the MC comes from a public medical institution or a medical practitioner appointed by the company. Some employers provide broader medical benefits, so check your employment contract, HR policy, insurer, or panel arrangement.
How much does an in-clinic consultation cost compared with telemedicine?
There is no official single average for private GP consultation fees in Singapore. The Singapore Medical Council says it does not issue guidelines on doctors' fees and charges. For a practical comparison, use published fee pages and check the live price before starting a consult.
Care setting
Published examples reviewed
Important caveat
Public polyclinic consultation
SingHealth and NHG list adult Singapore Citizen general medical consultation at S$18.50.
Rates differ for child/elderly citizens, PRs, and non-residents.
Private in-clinic GP consultation
Accord lists S$25-S$32 on weekdays; Raffles Medical 24-hour clinic lists daytime weekday consultation from S$31.61.
Medication, investigations, procedures, and after-hours charges may be separate.
Teleconsultation / online doctor consult
ReallySick.sg advertises from S$11; HMI/MHC states S$20 for unaffiliated patients; Raffles Connect lists S$25 nett from 8am to 10pm; DigitalHealth.sg lists S$15 nett on weekdays.
Medication, delivery, after-hours fees, app requirements, and consult length differ by provider.
This is why a claim like free digital MC should be read carefully. The digital certificate may not be charged separately, but a safe online consult still requires a doctor and a proper assessment.
Can CHAS or MediSave make a teleconsult free?
Usually not for acute illness. The CHAS FAQ states that CHAS subsidies do not cover video consultations for acute conditions such as common cold or cough. To use CHAS Acute subsidies for acute conditions, you need an in-person consultation with your CHAS GP.
There is a separate pathway for chronic-disease video follow-up under CDMP, where CHAS Chronic subsidy and MediSave may apply if the strict requirements are met. That is different from an on-demand teleconsult for fever, cough, food poisoning, or an MC for work.
Can an online doctor issue a free digital MC after teleconsultation?
An online doctor can issue a digital MC after teleconsultation if the provider is licensed, the doctor is SMC-registered, the consultation is clinically adequate, and the doctor decides sick leave is medically necessary. The digital MC may be sent by SMS link or made available in the provider's app or system.
But the doctor must be allowed to say no. If your symptoms do not justify medical leave, or if the doctor cannot assess you safely by video, you may be advised to attend an in-person clinic instead.
What makes a DigiMC legitimate?
The DigiMC employer FAQ says MCs issued through the official platform can be verified by checking that the URL is from the mc.gov.sg domain. It also says DigiMCs show the doctor's name and MCR number instead of a wet-ink signature. If printed or downloaded, the link or QR code can be used to check the document against the original online MC.
For paid sick leave under MOM rules, the employee must be certified unfit for work by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act. Employer policies can add administrative requirements, but the baseline is still a real doctor's certificate.
Good questions to ask before booking an online consult
Is this a live video teleconsultation with an SMC-registered doctor?
Is the provider licensed in Singapore under the Healthcare Services Act?
What is the consultation fee, and does it change after hours?
Are medication and delivery charged separately?
If an MC is medically appropriate, is there a separate document fee?
How will I receive and verify the DigiMC?
What happens if the doctor says I need a physical examination?
Bottom line
A free digital MC is not something to hunt for as a standalone product. The safe pathway is to consult a doctor - online or in person - and let the doctor decide whether medical leave is justified. If a provider promises a free or guaranteed MC before assessing you, that is a warning sign.
DigitalHealth.sg keeps the distinction clear: the weekday teleconsult fee is for the online doctor consultation. A DigiMC is issued only when medically appropriate, and medication or delivery is charged separately if needed.
Can I get a free digital MC without seeing a doctor?
No. A digital MC must still be issued by a doctor after proper clinical assessment. A free document without consultation is not a legitimate MC pathway.
Is DigiMC free in Singapore?
DigiMC is the digital format for an MC. Many providers do not charge separately for issuing it during a legitimate consultation, but the consultation itself is usually chargeable unless covered by your employer, insurer, panel arrangement, or eligible subsidy.
Does CHAS cover online MC teleconsults?
Not for acute conditions like cold or cough. CHAS says acute video consultations are not covered; you need an in-person CHAS GP visit to use CHAS Acute subsidies.
Will my employer reimburse an online doctor consult?
It depends on your employment contract, panel clinic rules, and insurer or corporate benefits. MOM's statutory reimbursement rule applies to consultation fees in specific paid-sick-leave situations involving public institutions or company-appointed doctors.
Can the doctor refuse to issue an MC after I paid for a consult?
Yes. You pay for the consultation and assessment, not for a guaranteed MC. If the doctor does not find medical grounds for sick leave, or if online assessment is unsafe, they should explain the next step instead of issuing an MC.
