Speech by Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Health, at the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 65th Anniversary Gala Dinner, 19 October 2018

Professor Teo Eng Kiat, Chairman, Board of Directors of Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SCTCM),

尊敬的新加坡中医学院董事会 赵英杰主席

Ms Wang Rong Fang, Science & Technology Counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore

中华人民共和国驻新加坡大使馆科技参赞 王蓉芳女士
 

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Chairman, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB)

新加坡中医管理委员会主席 符喜泉女士

Distinguished guests and friends,

各位嘉宾、朋友们

           Good evening! It is my pleasure to join you at the 65^th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SCTCM). I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to SCTCM on its 65^th anniversary. I would also like to congratulate the Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Association for the successful wrap-up of the 8^th Annual Meeting of the Specialty Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Ophthalmology of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) held earlier this morning.

          晚上好！很高兴应邀出席新加坡中医学院65周年庆典。首先，我想向新加坡中医学院建校65周年致以衷心的祝贺！同时，也向中医师公会全体同仁，为今天早上所举办的第八届世中联中医眼科国际会议取得圆满成功，致以热烈的祝贺！

2        Today, many developed countries, including Singapore, face challenges such as an ageing population and a significant increase in the incidence of chronic diseases. It is estimated that by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above. To better manage healthcare needs, we need to transform our healthcare system to move beyond providing good healthcare to promoting good health.

          当前各发达国家，包括新加坡，面临着人口老龄化及慢性病发病率显著升高等的挑战。预计在2030年，每4名新加坡人中就有1名年龄在65岁或以上。人类卫生健康的需要，已从治病模式为主转变为以防病模式为要。

3        TCM has a history of over 100 years in Singapore. With its unique approach to health promotion and well-being, TCM plays a complementary role to mainstream medicine in meeting the healthcare needs of our population. In January 1953, the Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Association established the SCTCM to develop and raise professional standards of local TCM practitioners and TCM allied healthcare workers. Over the past 65 years, SCTCM has trained about 4,000 TCM graduates, and made significant contributions to the development of TCM in Singapore and the region. To date, there are more than 3,000 registered TCM practitioners and acupuncturists in Singapore, involved in TCM clinical practice, education and scientific research. Together, they have built a strong foundation for the continued development of TCM.

        中医药在新加坡发展已有超过100年的历史。中医药在养生及保健方面的独特理论多年来得到国人普遍的信赖和欢迎，并且在本地的医疗保健体系中扮演着重要的辅助角色。为了培育和提升本地中医师的专业水准，新加坡中医师公会在1953年1月，创办了中医专门学校，至今担负着培训中医师及相关从业员的任务。65年来，新加坡中医学院培养了近4,000名毕业生，为我国和本区域的中医事业发展作出了显著的贡献。我国目前已有超过3,000名的注册中医师和针灸师，他们在中医医疗、教育以及科研等领域扮演了重要的角色，为我国中医药事业的进一步发展奠定了良好的基础。

4        As a TCMP Board-accredited Continuing Professional Education (CPE) course provider, SCTCM has been supporting TCM practitioners in their journey to upgrade their professional knowledge and skills. Over the last two years, SCTCM has organised over 200 learning hours of voluntary CPE courses, attended by some 5,000 practitioners[1]. MOH plans to implement CPE as a requirement for the renewal of practicing certificates in 2019, and I hope that SCTCM will continue to organise a wide variety of CPE courses for registered practitioners and acupuncturists, which will enhance TCM professional standards in Singapore, to meet the health needs of the population and also provide greater assurance to the public seeking TCM treatment.

         作为新加坡中医管委会认可的延续教育举办机构之一，新加坡中医学院在支持中医师的专业知识和技术提升方面亦不遗余力。在过去几年的自愿性中医延续教育计划下，中医学院积极举办多项课程，在过去两年里，一共举办了超过200个学时的延续教育课程，总参与人次近5,000人。随着卫生部计划在明年把中医延续教育计划列为更新执业证书的必备条件，我希望中医学院能继续举办更多多元化的延续教育课程，让中医师及针灸师提升专业水平以应对国人对医疗保健服务需求的同时，也让病患对中医更具信心和保障。

5        In closing, I wish all guests good health, and I hope that SCTCM will continue to achieve new milestones! Thank you.

         最后，我祝各位嘉宾们身体健康，祝新加坡中医学院前程似锦、更展宏图！谢谢！

[1] According to the TCMP Board CPE committee, SCTCM organised 107hrs and 114hrs of courses respectively in 2016 and 2017, and event attendance were 2235 and 2608 respectively.