Updates on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners in Singapore

12 January 2010

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12 Jan 2010

Question No: 290

Question

Name of the Person: Dr Lam Pin Min

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the total number of registered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners in Singapore; (b) what is the number and nature of complaints lodged against TCM practitioners over the past 3 years; and (c) whether TCM practitioners need to be covered by professional indemnity against costs and damages in clinical negligence cases.

Reply

Reply From MOH

1. There are 2,421 registered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners in Singapore.

2. Over the past 3 years, the TCM Practitioners Board had received a total of 23 complaints against registered TCM practitioners: 10 in 2007, 7 in 2008 and 6 in 2009. The complaints were mainly related to allegations of professional negligence, misconduct and the misuse of Western medicine.

3. The TCM Practitioners Board encourages all registered TCM practitioners to be covered by professional indemnity insurance on a voluntary basis.