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11 Jun 2004, The Straits Times
Question
Name of the Person: Dons Joshua Goh Chun Hwee
Who handles TCM complaints?
I REFER to the article, 'Patients can help weed out dodgy doctors' (ST, June 7).
Will the Health Ministry also investigate complaints about practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?
About a year ago, I had a terrible experience with one such practitioner. The bill for a $30 acupuncture session came up to $180 in the end because of her 'special concoction' which, according to her, I had agreed to buy when she said that it would aid my ailment.
However, she simply said, 'I'll prepare some medicine for you' without stating the price.
And as patients do, especially when they have needles poked into them, I agreed to the prescription.
On finding out the price, I told her that I would rather not buy it.
But she said that she had already prepared it - leaving me in the middle of the treatment to do so - and forced me to complete the transaction.
Reply
Reply from MOH
Public can seek recourse with TCM Practitioners Board
I refer to the letter from Mr Dons Joshua Goh Chun Hwee, "Who handles TCM complaints?" (ST, 11 June).
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners Board is empowered under the TCM Practitioners Act to handle complaints against registered TCM practitioners.
To help investigation, the public can provide the details and evidence supporting the complaint to the TCM Practitioners Board at the following address:
Executive Secretary
TCM Practitioners Board
226 Outram Road
Block A #02-01
Singapore 169039
Tel:62361080
Fax:62361947andnbsp;
E-mail: tcmb_enquiries@tcmb.gov.sg