Signing Of The Memorandum Of Understanding By Singapore And China On Traditional Chinese Medicine

22 Jul 1999

The Governments of the Republic of Singapore and the People's Republic of China (PRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today in Beijing to formalise bilateral coordination, liaison and cooperation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Chinese Government was represented by Prof Zhu Qingsheng, Vice-Minister for Health, Ministry of Health and Director General State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, and the Singapore Government by Mr Chan Soo Sen, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health, Singapore.

Under the MOU, PRC agrees to share expertise in developing and regulating TCM. The Ministry of Health, Singapore, will share with the PRC information on TCM regulations and research and development of TCM in Singapore and train personnel from PRC in health management.

With the signing of this MOU, both sides will jointly set up a Sino-Singapore Committee on TCM Cooperation to formulate the cooperation plans and facilitate the mutual exchange of information and expertise on matters pertaining to the teaching, practice and regulation of TCM and its practitioners. The Committee will meet annually, with the 2 countries hosting the meeting in alternate years.

In the current plan to develop the TCM, the Ministry of Health plans to start the acupuncturist registration process by mid 2000. A system to appraise and examine acupuncturists will be set up, and the Acupuncture Upgrading Training Course (AUTC) will be initiated. Subsequently, the registration of TCM practitioners will follow. The Ministry of Health will seek inputs from the Singapore TCM Organisations Coordinating Committee (STCMOCC) when working out and implementing the registration of acupuncturists and TCM practitioners. This will encourage the TCM community to participate fully and actively in the acupuncturist registration process in order to lay a solid foundation for the eventual registration of TCM practitioners.

While in PRC, the Singapore Delegation visited the State Administration of TCM (SATCM) and the State Drug Administration (SDA). The Delegation also visited Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of TCM, Guang An Men and Beijing TCM hospitals.