Additional Funding to Develop and Support the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Sector

1.         To further develop the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sector, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will provide additional funding for TCM research and to support skills development and capability building for TCM professionals.

2.        TCM plays a useful complementary role in meeting the healthcare needs of our population, including in preventive health and primary care in the community. This is in line with MOH’s strategic thrusts to move beyond ‘Beyond Healthcare to Health’ and ‘Beyond Hospital to Community’, as we prepare Singapore for an ageing population.

Further Funding of $5 million for TCM Research Grant

3.        MOH will provide a further funding of $5 million over the next five years for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant (TCMRG) to encourage collaborative research between researchers in public healthcare institutions, TCM industry players and institutes of higher learning.

4.        This is in addition to the $3 million which had earlier been put aside for the TCM sector in December 2012 for the same purpose. To date, two grant calls have been made and we have received a total of 47 proposals.

5.        MOH has extended the scope of TCMRG beyond clinical research to include research on traditional Chinese exercise (e.g. taiji and baduanjin), therapies (e.g. TCM tuina) and health-related studies targeted at promoting health, preventing diseases and improving patient outcomes. These include areas such as the use of TCM medicinal herbs and products in health promotion and disease prevention.

Establishment of $5 million TCM Development Grant

5.        Another priority area is to help TCM practitioners stay relevant with their professional knowledge and encourage continual professional learning. MOH will set up a $5 million TCM Development Grant (TCMDG) to support skills development and capability building for TCM professionals. Administered by MOH, the TCMDG aims to provide co-funding for training and professional development of all registered TCM practitioners and acupuncturists, including TCM allied healthcare workers such as clinic assistants and herbal dispensers listed with TCM Practitioners’ Board (TCMP Board). Applications for the grant will open from January 2018.

6.        To enhance the quality of TCM programmes, funding support will be extended to TCM course providers that are accredited by the TCMP Board to conduct more local TCM conferences, seminars and workshops, mentorship or other training programmes for professional development of TCM practitioners and related personnel.

7.        MOH will also provide funding support to TCM service providers to strengthen their operational efficiency through adoption of IT solutions and harnessing technology to improve access to latest healthcare information, enhance secure delivery and facilitate R&D activities. In addition, MOH will provide support to improve existing facilities for improved infection control and to better meet the needs of elderly patients.

8.        The TCMDG builds on MOH’s earlier efforts to raise standards throughout the profession. For instance, since 2000, TCM practitioners who want to practise TCM in Singapore are required to pass the Singapore TCM-physician Registration Examination (STRE) conducted by the TCM Practitioners Board (TCMPB). To enhance professional development, TCMPB has put in place a structured Continuing TCM Education (CTE) programme for registered TCM practitioners in 2013. With the introduction of the STRE and CTE, the professional standard and calibre of TCM practitioners in Singapore have risen over the years.

Making Continuing TCM Education a requirement for renewal of practising certification

9.        Currently CTE is still a voluntary item, and all registered TCM practitioners are encouraged to fulfil at least 25 CTE points per year. With support from the TCM industry, we intend to make CTE a requirement for the renewal of practising certificates. It will align Singapore’s TCM registration requirements with overseas jurisdictions. The requirement will take effect after the TCM Practitioners’ Act has been amended. A transition period will be provided. This will help TCM physicians to stay up to date with the latest knowledge on disease management, and identify areas where TCM can help support Singapore’s healthcare challenges.