After receiving an MC in Singapore, the remaining task can look simple: send it to work. Confusion starts when a document question, a leave-entitlement question and a medical-bill claim are treated as the same thing.
Use this checklist to organise the conversation with your employer. It covers general MOM guidance for employees under the Employment Act, plus practical DigiMC handling. Your employment terms may provide additional benefits; schools, insurers and other organisations have their own processes.
First, notify your employer that you cannot attend
Do not wait for a finished PDF before telling work that you are unwell and seeking care. MOM says employees unable to report for work must inform their employer within 48 hours under the Employment Act. Follow the company’s reporting channel and keep a record of the notification.
A simple message can distinguish what you know from what is pending: “I’m unwell and have informed my supervisor. I’m arranging a medical assessment and will submit any certificate issued through our usual process.” Do not promise that a doctor will issue leave before the assessment has happened.
Identify which question needs answering
When you ask HR for help, name the issue. This avoids being sent between the clinic, payroll and the benefits administrator for a question that belongs to only one of them.
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Question | What to check | Useful document |
|---|---|---|
| MC recognition | Who issued the certificate and whether its details can be verified | The original MC or DigiMC link |
| Paid sick leave | Employment coverage, service period and remaining entitlement | Leave record and employment terms |
| Fee reimbursement | Panel-clinic and company benefit rules | Consultation receipt and itemised invoice |
Check recognition and leave entitlement separately
MOM’s answer on teleconsultation MCs is clear: under the Employment Act, employers must recognise MCs from practitioners registered under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act, including those issued after teleconsultation. An online consultation is not, by itself, a reason to reject the certificate.
Paid sick-leave eligibility has additional conditions. MOM lists Employment Act coverage, at least three months of service and timely notification. Entitlement is pro-rated between three and six months. After six months, the statutory maximum is 14 days of outpatient sick leave and 60 days of hospitalisation leave, with outpatient leave included within that 60-day total.
Those annual limits do not determine the number of days on an individual MC. If your available balance or employment coverage is unclear, ask HR to check the relevant record and refer to MOM’s current eligibility page.
Sources: MOM: recognition of teleconsultation MCs; MOM: sick-leave eligibility and entitlement
Can an employer reject a teleconsultation MC?
MOM says employers must recognise MCs issued by medical practitioners registered under the Medical Registration Act or dental practitioners registered under the Dental Registration Act, including certificates issued through teleconsultation. An employer should therefore not reject a valid MC merely because the consultation happened by video.
An employer may still ask for a readable document or a working verification link, and paid sick-leave eligibility has its own conditions. Ask HR to state the exact issue: authenticity, leave entitlement or fee reimbursement. If the question is authenticity, share the original DigiMC link and ask the issuing clinic to help with any error rather than changing the document yourself.
Sources: MOM: recognition of teleconsultation MCs; DigiMC: employer verification and submission formats
Use the receipt for the medical-bill question
MOM says employees may choose another clinic and still qualify for paid sick leave, while statutory consultation-fee reimbursement is tied to public institutions or company-appointed clinics. An accepted MC therefore does not automatically make every private consultation or delivery charge reimbursable.
If something is declined, ask for the reason in writing and establish whether the issue is document verification, leave eligibility or a claim rule. The clinic can help clarify the document it issued; your employer handles its leave and benefits records. For an unresolved employment question, refer to MOM’s official guidance and contact channels.
Sources: MOM: clinic choice and consultation-fee reimbursement
Sources & editorial note
- MOM: recognition of teleconsultation MCs
- MOM: clinic choice and consultation-fee reimbursement
- MOM: sick-leave eligibility and entitlement
- DigiMC: employer verification and submission formats
Sources checked on 26 September 2026. This original guide provides general information. It does not replace a consultation. Follow your clinician’s advice for your situation.
