Traditional Chinese Medicine providers and practitioners can apply for accreditation under a new programme which hopes to raise standards and confidence in the sector. 

Five traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) providers and practitioners have become the first in Singapore to receive accreditation under a new national programme which aims to raise standards and strengthen public confidence in the sector. 

Health minister Ong Ye Kung said, in a speech at the opening of the 23rd World Congress of Chinese Medicine: “We are actively exploring integrative medicine, and expanding the role of TCM in mainstream medicine. We are doing so in four areas – education, accreditation, integration through evidence-building and preventive health.”

Providers and practitioners can now apply for accreditation under the TCM Accreditation Programme. The programme is voluntary and comprises two complementary pillars: TCM Services Accreditation and TCM Practitioners Accreditation, for service providers and individual practitioners respectively.

It sets consistent standards for clinical governance, patient safety, service quality, professional competence, and continuous improvement across Singapore’s TCM landscape. Through the adoption of these standards and best practices, the programme is meant to serve as a mark of quality for the public, recognise service providers committed to consistent and established service standards and support the sector’s continued development.

The Academy of Chinese Medicine, Singapore (ACMS) has been appointed the accrediting body to implement the Programme.

“Our objective is to establish accreditation as something beyond the licence of practice. It demonstrates a commitment to stronger governance, consistent standards and public confidence,” the minister said, adding that the programme creates opportunities for accredited practitioners and providers to work with the Ministry of Health in co-designing future TCM care models and contributing to our national health initiatives.

The five providers that have met the new accreditation standards are Kwong Wai Shiu TCM Centre in Serangoon, NTU Chinese Medicine, Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution Headquarters, Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution Headquarters and Thomson Chinese Medicine in Novena.