Singapore has launched a voluntary accreditation framework for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) providers as part of a broader effort to integrate TCM more closely with mainstream healthcare. The initiative aims to enhance governance, establish consistent standards, and build public confidence in TCM services.
The TCM Accreditation Programme, which was officially launched on October 17, will initially accredit five providers: 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. The programme is administered by the Academy of Chinese Medicine, Singapore, and includes separate assessment tracks for organisations and individual practitioners.
Organisational accreditation evaluates governance, hygiene, infection control, equipment, and the preparation of TCM medications. Practitioners are assessed on qualifications, clinical experience, and professional standing. Accreditation, which is valid for three years for clinics and two years for practitioners, goes beyond the existing registration requirements under the TCM Practitioners Board. Registered providers and practitioners can continue operating without accreditation, which Health Minister Ong Ye Kung described as a “commitment to stronger governance and consistent standards.”
The initiative is part of Singapore’s broader push to promote integrative medicine. Along with the accreditation programme, the Ministry of Health (MOH) plans to explore whether accredited TCM practitioners working alongside general practitioners (GPs) could be permitted to order diagnostic tests such as X-rays. MOH also plans to test collaborative care models involving TCM and Western medicine under the preventive care programme Healthier SG, with pilot projects expected in the first half of 2027. The ministry has received 30 proposals for such collaborations and is in the process of shortlisting applicants for further discussion.
In addition, MOH is reopening a call for proposals for its TCM Integrative Sandbox initiative starting November 3. The sandbox allows public healthcare institutions to evaluate TCM treatments in hospital settings, assessing their clinical effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Launched in January 2025, the sandbox has supported trials for seven acupuncture projects addressing conditions such as stroke rehabilitation, migraines, knee osteoarthritis, female infertility, drug-resistant epilepsy, and supportive cancer care. Only acupuncture for neck and lower back pain is currently subsidised in public hospitals. MOH intends to keep the proposal call open for three more years to encourage further research into Chinese proprietary medicines, particularly for chronic disease management.
Ong emphasized the importance of rigorous evidence to ensure the safety and effectiveness of TCM treatments, while recognizing that strict randomized controlled trials may not always be practical for TCM due to its long history and empirical knowledge base.
Separately, the Agency for Integrated Care will facilitate partnerships between accredited TCM providers and active ageing centres to expand access for seniors. Some institutions, including Kwong Wai Shiu TCM Centre and Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution, have already begun collaborating with these centres.
Practitioners have welcomed accreditation as a positive step toward integrating TCM with Western medicine. Physician Tao Chun Huat, cofounder of NexusTCM Clinic for Family & Children, noted that acceptance among Western doctors remains a challenge. Victoria Tan, founder of Common TCM Medical Centre, said she plans to apply for accreditation and sees potential for TCM to support elderly patients managing chronic conditions, particularly by easing navigation between TCM and Western care through formal referrals.