Request for Opening Hours to be Assessment Criterion for GP Clinic Tenders at Woodlands North Plaza
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Mariam Jaafar’s inquiry on whether opening hours could be an assessment criterion for GP clinic tenders at Woodlands North Plaza to ensure after-office medical access. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee replied that clinic operating hours are private business decisions rather than tender criteria, though HDB works with operators to understand site-specific requirements. He highlighted that current clinic operators face manpower challenges that restrict extended hours and advised residents to seek urgent care at the 24-hour clinic in Woodlands Mart. Residents were also encouraged to use digital resources like the CHAS clinic locator or HealthHub to find alternative nearby clinics with suitable operating hours. HDB will continue to evaluate the feasibility of imposing requirements based on local needs while considering the operational constraints of private medical providers.
Transcript
115 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether HDB can make opening hours a qualifying or assessment criterion for new tenders or tenancy renewals for the three general practitioner clinics at Woodlands North Plaza to ensure access to medical services during lunch time or after-office hours on weekdays, or on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and public holidays; and (b) before the end of their current tenancies, whether HDB will consider taking interim measures to address the lack of access to medical services within such hours.
Mr Desmond Lee: Clinic operating hours are business decisions made by private operators and are not part of the assessment criteria for new tenders or tenancy renewals.
Where there are site-specific requirements, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) would generally work with operators to understand any operational or business constraints they may face and explore solutions that can meet the local needs. This allows HDB to better assess whether it is necessary or feasible to impose additional requirements as part of tenancy renewals or new tenders. HDB understands from the operators of these three clinics at Woodlands North Plaza that they wish to continue serving the local residents as they have for many years, but face difficulties in extending their operating hours beyond office hours due to manpower challenges at this time.
Residents living around Woodlands North Plaza could visit the 24-hour clinic at Block 768 Woodlands Avenue 6 (Woodlands Mart) should they need urgent medical attention after operating hours. They may also search online for other clinics near them and their opening hours, via Community Health Assist Scheme clinic locator or HealthHub.