SARS Preparedness At TCM Clinics And Medical Halls

14 May 2003

As part of the effort to prepare frontline healthcare workers to fight SARS, MOH has decided to involve TCM practitioners and owners of TCM clinics and Chinese medical halls. There are about 2000 TCM practitioners (including acupuncturists), 800 TCM clinics and 900 Chinese medical halls in Singapore.

MOH Directives and Interim Advisories on SARS

MOH sent directives and interim advisories to all registered TCM practitioners on 5 May, TCM clinics on 8 May and Chinese medical halls on 12 May 2003 respectively. The directives spelt out the need for compulsory training on SARS prevention for registered TCM practitioners and referral of suspected SARS cases to TTSH while the advisories set out guidelines for infection control procedures to prevent SARS in TCM clinics and Chinese medical halls. The directives and interim advisories are at Annex A.

Telephone Surveys and Inspection Visits

3 A telephone survey is being conducted on owners of TCM clinics and Chinese medical halls to gauge their SARS preparedness. The survey questions are based on the advisories sent to them. Inspection visits are also conducted to inspect these premises subsequent to the telephone survey to assess and assist in their compliance. This is expected to complete by 31 May 2003.

Compulsory Training of All TCM practitioners

4 MOH is working with the TCM Practitioners Board and the Singapore TCM Organisations Coordinating Committee (STCMOCC) to conduct compulsory training on infection control measures for all TCM practitioners. The training sessions are scheduled for 17 & 18 May 2003 at the Auditorium, College of Medicine Building.

Inspection Memo

5 Inspection Memos will be issued to TCM clinics that have been inspected by MOH and found to be essentially in compliance with MOH directives and advisories on SARS and that the TCM practitioners working there have completed the training on SARS.

Mr Chan Soo Sen's Visits to TCM Clinics and Chinese Medical Halls

6 Minister of State (PMO & MCDS) Mr Chan Soo Sen will be visiting STCMOCC, the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (STOC), the umbrella body representing TCM trade associations, and several larger TCM clinics and Chinese medical halls over the next 2 weeks. Accompanying Mr Chan will be several members of the Chinese Community Liaison Group of Members of Parliament. They will meet with TCM practitioners and owners of TCM clinics and Chinese medical halls to communicate MOH's effort to involve the TCM community in the fight against SARS. Mr Chan's visit schedule is at Annex B.