Who pays for the pre-employment medical check?

[Hitoiro]

Hi there!

My company sent me an IPA and it says I need to take HIV and TB tests. The question is who pays for the test: employer or employee?

Thanks

[JR8]

Register with a local doctor and let him do the HIV test. He will (likely) refer you to a local imaging/x-ray centre for the TB chest x-ray. Last time I had them done, as I recall, the x-ray was S$8 (!), and the blood-test... don't know maybe S$25 ? Or so.

In any case the costs were peanuts compared to the cost of private medicine back home. I suspect this ties with registering with a doctor and paying a 'locals' price. If you were to go to a walk-in visitors clinic here, it is likely to cost more, plus have a weighty (maybe S$100?) consultation fee on top.

p.s. I'd expect the employee to pay.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Most companies will reimburse. Companies do have to pay for WP and S pass applicants, but not a requirement for EP applicants. However, some will reimburse. Also some companies will require a medical for their own insurance purposes. I would imagine those medicals would be covered by the company. If you wanted the job badly enough, you would pay for your own HIV & TB test (if required by MOM). Usually PEP and P1 (under the old three pass EP system) only had to make a statutory declaration, while the lesser EPs had to do the physical.

[Hitoiro]

Thanks for the info. I suspect my company is not going to reimburse anything. Shall try to find a local doctor. Do you mean doctors in those small private clinics in every street? Or doctors in gov. hospitals such as NUH, SGH, etc.?

[JR8]

Thanks for the info. I suspect my company is not going to reimburse anything. Shall try to find a local doctor. Do you mean doctors in those small private clinics in every street? Or doctors in gov. hospitals such as NUH, SGH, etc.?

The former... just a neighbourhood doctor.

[Strong Eagle]

Thanks for the info. I suspect my company is not going to reimburse anything. Shall try to find a local doctor. Do you mean doctors in those small private clinics in every street? Or doctors in gov. hospitals such as NUH, SGH, etc.?

I had to do the HIV/TB test when I got PR. You should carefully read the IPA regarding the acceptable clinics and laboratories. They have a fear, perhaps well founded, that some folks might try to fake the results. It is unlikely the neighborhood doctor will have the facilities to do the necessary blood test.

I'd call around to the various public clinics and get a quote.

[Hitoiro]

You should carefully read the IPA regarding the acceptable clinics and laboratories. They have a fear, perhaps well founded, that some folks might try to fake the results. It is unlikely the neighborhood doctor will have the facilities to do the necessary blood test.

I'd call around to the various public clinics and get a quote.

Unfortunately... or fortunately there is nothing about the acceptable clinics in my IPA. See, it is just an EP, not PR like in your case. But you are right, I'm gonna check a few different places.

[JR8]

You should carefully read the IPA regarding the acceptable clinics and laboratories. They have a fear, perhaps well founded, that some folks might try to fake the results. It is unlikely the neighborhood doctor will have the facilities to do the necessary blood test.

I'd call around to the various public clinics and get a quote.

Unfortunately... or fortunately there is nothing about the acceptable clinics in my IPA. See, it is just an EP, not PR like in your case. But you are right, I'm gonna check a few different places.

The local doctor doesn't do his own analyses. At the end of the day his clinics blood, urine etc samples get collected and taken to a central medical analysis facility. A few days later you return to the doctor to collect your results.

[Hitoiro]

I think I understood how it works. Ministry of Health has a list of approved labs on its website. Each of those labs provides pre-employment medical exam services. For example: https://www.theclinicalab.com/pb/wp_337 ... 2620560378

[JR8]

Ok, go to a private clinic then. Just don't be surprised if it costs 10*+ what a local GP could get it done for.

[Hitoiro]

Ok, go to a private clinic then. Just don't be surprised if it costs 10*+ what a local GP could get it done for.

This is what I found in my IPA: all the tests should be taked in labs approved by MOH only
I suppose any local doctor will send my blood to one of those labs otherwise it'll be rejected my MOM.

[Strong Eagle]

I think I understood how it works. Ministry of Health has a list of approved labs on its website. Each of those labs provides pre-employment medical exam services. For example: https://www.theclinicalab.com/pb/wp_337 ... 2620560378

Yes, this is what I was referring to... the list of approved labs.

[Strong Eagle]

Ok, go to a private clinic then. Just don't be surprised if it costs 10*+ what a local GP could get it done for.

Has to be approved labs, JR8. OP needs to check with your suggested "cheap doctors" to see if they use an approved lab.

[JR8]

Has to be approved labs, JR8. OP needs to check with your suggested "cheap doctors" to see if they use an approved lab.

Please refer to:
http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre_o ... &secid=171

I can't directly link, so scroll down the page to ...
Popular Forms, and below that heading...
Medical Examination Report.

Which is headed:-
---------------------------------
MEDICAL EXAMINATION REPORT
For New Applicants:
1. The Medical Examination may be done in Singapore by any registered General Practitioner (GP). Applicants who are
in their home countries/places of residence may have their Medical Examination and HIV test done in their home
countries/places of residence at any medical clinic licensed to carry out such tests. If HIV testing is done in
Singapore, it may be carried out with either rapid or ELISA tests.

For Renewal Applicants:
1. The Medical Examination MUST be done in Singapore by any registered GP. HIV testing may be done with either
rapid or ELISA tests.

Notes for All:
1. This Medical Examination Report is to be completed by a registered doctor and returned to the examinee. The
original copy of the laboratory report for HIV and the X-ray report must be attached to this Medical Examination
Report only if the medical examination and testing is carried out overseas.
2. The laboratory report for HIV and the X-ray report submitted to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority should be
within THREE MONTHS from the date of the issue of the reports.
----------------------

[Hitoiro]

Thank you guys! I called MOM to clarify this issue and surprisingly everybody can bring the tests results from their home countries. Then you only need any loca GP to sign a medical report. Those neighbourhood doctors "also can la"