Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information & The Arts, #36-00, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963, Tel: 3757794/5

SPEECH BY DR ALINE WONG, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE

FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF

HUA MEI ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC IN ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL

ON 30 NOVEMBER 1996 AT 12.30 PM

Tan Sri Frank Tsao

Honoured guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am indeed pleased to be here today to officially open the Hua Mei Acupuncture Clinic. Today marks the culmination of many months of hard work put in by the Tsao Foundation in setting up the clinic. It also represents another important collaboration between the Foundation and MOH in improving the health services available to the elderly in Singapore.

The Tsao Foundation has made many praiseworthy contributions towards promoting the health and welfare of the elderly. The Foundation's Hua Mei Mobile Clinic is one of its commendable efforts oriented towards caring for the elderly. Besides providing healthcare services, the Foundation also has an immense interest in research work, in particular, research on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This is to be encouraged as it is in line with MOH's policy to promote more academic links and collaboration between TCM experts and Western medical doctors in the area of clinical research.

This acupuncture clinic is a much welcomed "member" to the various health services for the elderly currently available in the Geriatric Centre at Alexandra Hospital. These services include : inpatient care, day hospital, outpatient facilities and other community support services such as home nursing, and home medical care. Together, they constitute a comprehensive one-stop service centre catering to the healthcare needs of the elderly. The addition of the acupuncture clinic will further enhance the provision of holistic care for the elderly sick.

As you know, there is now a resurgence of interest in traditional forms of medicine in many parts of the world. While western medicine has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last few decades, it is now generally recognised that a patient needs as much holistic care as he requires the specialised treatments rendered by modern medicine in order for him to enjoy optimum health and recovery. Chinese medicine has 5,000 years of history. Its theory may not be readily comprehensible to the modern mind trained on strictly scientific principles, its practice is however, time-honoured and brings beneficial effects, as many patients or former patients are ready to testify.

MOH recognises the role that traditional Chinese medicine plays in our existing system of healthcare. We think that TCM can be a useful part of primary health care, particularly for minor ailments and for some of the chronic conditions that commonly affect the elderly. In October last year, the MOH Committee on TCM published its report, recommending the government to support various efforts to improve the standard of TCM practice, and to adopt a step-by-step approach to eventual regulation of TCM here.

We welcome the participation of VWOs in providing TCM services, particularly for the elderly. Singapore's population is aging. The need for medical services will increase. The use of TCM for minor and chronic ailments by the elderly will help to moderate their healthcare expenses, apart from the benefits they can derive from this holistic form of medical treatment.

Last year, MOH set up an Acupuncture Research Clinic at Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital. Its services are very much in demand. Arising from its success, we have encouraged and worked closely with the Tsao Foundation to set up a second acupuncture clinic at Alexandra Hospital. As compared to the AMK Research Clinic, this Clinic is service-oriented and is geared towards the healthcare needs of the elderly. Hence, its emphasis on such conditions as relief of lower back and joint pains, stroke rehabilitation, treatment of headaches and migraine.

Like the Ang Mo Kio Acupuncture Clinic, this clinic will take patients who are referred by western doctors. The clinic will also run a smoking cessation clinic which will be open to walk-in patients as well. The acupuncturists working in this clinic are experienced professionals in their field. We hope western doctors in Singapore would give this clinic their support by referring suitable patients here.

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some recent developments on the TCM scene in Singapore. The Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Organization Coordinating Committee or STCMOCC, has todate, almost completed collecting and collating data on TCM practitioners and acupuncturists who have responded to the survey initiated by the Committee. With information from this survey, the STCMOCC will be drawing up a list of practitioners which will be used as reference by the public. This is in accordance with the recommendation of the MOH Committee on TCM. We hope the listing criteria will be clear and will represent standards of competency which are considered to be adequate by members of the TCM community. This will assure the public and will certainly enhance the TCM community's standing as it moves towards self-regulation.

Another significant step towards self-regulation by the TCM Community is that the STCMOCC has already drawn up a code of ethics. Ethics is the soul of professional practice and as such, MOH encourages all TCM practitioners and acupuncturists in Singapore to adhere to the ethical code agreed upon by STCMOCC. I understand that the STCMOCC will be publicising this Code among the TCM community soon. Now that this task is done, we would like the STCMOCC to start looking into developing a disciplinary process such that errant members can be appropriately cautioned, and if necessary, disciplined.

Ultimately, the quality of TCM service can be improved only if the training of the practitioners is upgraded. Towards this end, the STCMOCC has submitted a memorandum for the new 6-year part-time training course for MOH's comments. It covers areas like entry requirements, lecturer qualifications, teaching facilities, core syllabus, and exit examinations. This is an important document that should help to define the standards of training which is suitable for Singapore's context. MOH is now reviewing the memorandum. Once the document is finalised, it should serve as the guidelines for all TCM schools in Singapore in conducting TCM training courses.

I hope the TCM community will continue to rally behind and support the various efforts of the STCMOCC in raising the standards of TCM in Singapore.

On behalf of MOH, I would like to thank the Foundation once again for taking such a keen interest in the health and welfare of the elderly in Singapore. We look forward to further collaboration with you, and wish the clinic and Tsao Foundation every success.