All traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physicians will soon have to undergo lifelong training, just like Western medical doctors. TCM physicians will now have to amass certain number of points each year.
At present, TCM physicians are encouraged, though not compelled, to earn at least 25 continuous TCM education points a year through accredited events such as those organised by the Institute of Chinese Medical Studies.
Under the new rules, it will be mandatory for practitioners to chalk up such points if they want to renew their practising certificates.
The new requirements will take effect after the TCM Practitioners Act is amended, which will probably occur within the next 12 to 18 months.
These changes were announced by Senior Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) yesterday. Mr Chee talked about the integration of both traditional and scientific domains of medicine during the convocation ceremony for NTU’s biomedical sciences and Chinese medicine double degree programme.
At Nanyang Technological University (NTU), robots are being taught to perform the traditional Chinese massage technique known as tuina. The university is applying for funding to develop this project under the Health Ministry’s new $5 million traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research grant.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the event, Mr Chee said that TCM can play a big role in health promotion and rehabilitation.
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Source: The Straits Times, 3 August 2017