TCM "specialists" will face disciplinary action

[Kenshin Uesugi]

TCM "specialists" will face disciplinary action
By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 03 January 2011 2130 hrs <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="260"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" width="20"></td> <td align="right" width="240">

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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association said members who claim to be Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) specialists will face disciplinary action, including stripping them of their membership.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan had said on Sunday the term was misleading, as there is no specialists registry for such practitioners here.

TCM may be a long-accepted form of treatment but in Singapore, it's still a developing industry, much less regulated than western medicine.

The industry code of ethics provides guidelines on the conduct of practitioners.

For example, signboards cannot make any reference to equipment, speciality or organs. But as there are no clear disciplinary measures, observers say sometimes the rules get ignored.

But it's not always clear when the line is crossed, such as when the use of the word 'specialist' appears in signboards.

One example is that of Specialist Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre, a TCM centre set up by the Chung Hwa Medical Institution, which in turn comes under the Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association.

Specialist Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre's Koh Chin Aik said: "Our physicians all have years of experience, and they hold at least Masters degrees.

"Some are good at treating the liver and kidney, others in gynaecology, paediatrics or acupuncture. Till now, no one has requested us to change our signboard, or have our patients questioned our use of the term 'specialist'".

Another example is Eu Yan Sang, which runs what it calls specialist centres.

Two are located at Paragon shopping centre, while the third is at Camden Medical Centre.

Eu Yan Sang also runs neighbourhood general clinics.

It told Channel NewsAsia none of its physicians is labelled "specialists", though they may have particular areas of focus. such as fertility and stroke.

But it said it would comply with authorities on the naming of its clinics.

Sia's Chinese Clinic's Sia Bak Chiang said even if practitioners have received specialised training overseas such as in China, which offers courses in sub-specialities, they have to be careful.

"Don't call yourself a specialist. You should say you have an interest in a particular field. And before you begin treatment, you have to ask patients if they have sought specialist medical help at a hospital," he said.

The Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association, which has about 1,500 members, said it would consult industry practice in China on how the TCM specialities are determined.

Observers said it would take many years before a register of TCM specialists can be set up.

-CNA/wk

 

[|ASIA|]

Jan 4, 2011

Not specialists in TCM, just special interest

Singapore does not have registry of specialists for TCM practitioners

By Salma Khalik & Fiona Low

A TCM clinic which claims to have an "oncologist". There are currently more than 2,400 TCM practitioners in Singapore, and quite a number say they have special interest or experience in treating various ailments such as cancer, arthritis, stroke and fertility problems. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

TRADITIONAL Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners cannot call themselves 'specialists', but they can say that they have special interest or experience in certain areas of treatment - so long as it is true.

This is because Singapore does not have a registry of specialists for TCM practitioners.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

[email protected]
[email protected]

Additional reporting by Melissa Pang

 

[|ASIA|]

CASE reports rise in complaints against TCM practitioners
By Ng Lian Cheong/Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 04 January 2011 2135 hrs
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SINGAPORE : The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has seen a jump in the number of complaints against Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners.

Since 2002, there have been 33 cases against TCM practitioners and clinics, of which 25 were reported in the last three years.

Of these, seven in 10 were related to over-charging and high-pressure sales tactics.

Some consumers said physicians should list out the medicinal herbs used.

But physicians said it is not practical as prescriptions vary between patients.

Some physicians have charged several thousand dollars for certain treatments, while claiming to be specialists in their field.

But on Tuesday, the TCM Practitioners Board repeated that it does not recognise "specialists".

The Board said there isn't any process in place to accredit a practitioner as a specialist in any field of TCM.

It only registers qualified persons as practitioners.

The Board said it has not received any official complaints on the matter so far. But it won't hesitate to take action against such practitioners if complaints are received.

Meanwhile, physicians said it will take 20 to 30 years before a registry can be established.

Koh Chin Aik, director of the Specialist Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre, said: "Even in China, there is no such registry, although there are industry regulations. The quality of training tends to be uneven, and the skills of the physicians will also vary."

The TCM Board also clarified that it never sent out any circular advising practitioners against the use of the label "specialist", contrary to certain reports by the Chinese press. The last circular it sent to all registered TCM practitioners, relating to advertising guidelines, was in 2007.

In the circular, the Board reminded TCM practitioners to only provide information on their qualification, area of practice, practice arrangements and contact details.

The information has to be factual, accurate, verifiable and not extravagant, misleading, sensational, laudatory, comparative or disparaging.

These guidelines are part of the "Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines for TCM Practitioners" published on the Board's website.

The Board reminded all practitioners that any breach of the guidelines would lead to disciplinary action.

On Sunday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said it is wrong for TCM practitioners to claim they are specialists as Singapore currently does not have a specialist register for such practitioners.

- CNA/ms

 

[|ASIA|]

Jan 5, 2011

Pricked: The myth of the TCM specialist

Watchdog says there is no such category, warns practitioners against using the label

By Salma Khalik & Fiona Low

The TCM Practitioners Board says it does not register specialists and that there is no process to accredit practitioners as specialists in any TCM field. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

THE watchdog for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice on Tuesday reiterated that such practitioners cannot call themselves 'specialists'.

The TCM Practitioners Board, a statutory board under the Health Ministry, said it does not register TCM specialists, and there is no process to accredit a practitioner as a specialist in any particular field of TCM.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.

[email protected]
[email protected]

 

[|ASIA|]

Jan 6, 2011

Docs may face changes in ethics rules

Suggestions include letting them refer patients to TCM physicians

By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent

-- ST FILE PHOTO

DOCTORS could be allowed to refer patients to a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physician under changes proposed by the Singapore Medical Association (SMA).

They could also be asked to take more responsibility for preventing organ trading.

These are among suggestions made by the SMA to the country's medical watchdog, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).

The SMC is reviewing its code of ethics and will come up with a revised code before the end of the year.

This could mean big changes in the rules that doctors work by.

The SMA, which represents 5,300 doctors, said the fact that TCM practitioners are now registered under law meant there was no reason doctors should be barred from referring patients to them.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]

 

[R y u]

TCM associations call for guidelines on fees, charges
By Ng Lian Cheong | Posted: 06 January 2011 2051 hrs
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Patient gets a pulse check by a TCM practitioner </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td class="update"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>
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SINGAPORE : Two Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) associations in Singapore are urging the TCM Practitioners Board for guidelines on fees and charges, so as to reduce any confusion among customers.

The Association for Promoting Chinese Medicines and Singapore Chinese Physicians Association, representing some 2,000 practitioners, are calling for the introduction of a charging guideline.

There is currently no set structure, resulting in customers either overpaying or being undercharged.

Some customers have even reported paying up to S$5,000.

The Ministry of Health started the registration of TCM practitioners in 2001, but no guidelines were set on fees or charges.

- CNA /ls

 

[Screwball]

Most of the TCM doctor who is calling themselves as Specialists is the PRCs.