Treatments that Blend Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Debated in Parliament on 6 Aug 2018.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Joan Pereira asked about the number of ongoing clinical trials for integrative Western and TCM treatments and how the landscape and costs will evolve.
The Ministry of Health has funded eight million dollars through the TCM Research Grant since 2013, supporting ten projects in various stages, including trials on acupuncture for dry eyes and TCM for childhood asthma.
TCM currently plays a complementary role in Singapore’s healthcare system, with some treatments like acupuncture incorporated where evidence supports efficacy and safety.
The Ministry is in early research stages and cannot yet estimate future costs of integrated treatments but will continue monitoring progress and evaluating evidence.
A third grant call closed in June 2018 with proposals under review, indicating ongoing support for collaborative research between TCM practitioners and healthcare institutions.

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Joan Pereira

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health (a) how many clinical trials featuring integrative treatments that utilise Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine are in the works; and (b) how will the landscape for integrative medicine evolve in the years to come and what are the expected treatment costs.

Gan Kim Yong

The Ministry of Health has been encouraging collaborative research between researchers and practitioners in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and those from our healthcare institutions and institutes of higher learning. To support this, the Ministry established the TCM Research Grant in 2013. We have provided $8 million funding to date.

Ten research projects were funded after the first two grant calls, and they are in various stages of progress. Examples of the collaborative projects include (a) a randomised controlled trial conducted by the Singapore Eye Research Institute and Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution on the use of acupuncture and herbal treatment in dry eyes; and (b) a study conducted by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution on the supportive role of TCM in the management of mild to moderate childhood asthma. The third grant call closed on 30 June 2018 and the proposals are being reviewed.

TCM plays a complementary role in our healthcare system. Where evidence for efficacy and safety is demonstrated, like acupuncture for pain management and post-stroke rehabilitation, our public healthcare institutions have incorporated these into the care for patients. As more research evidence supporting its efficacy emerges, TCM can play a larger role.

However, as we are still in the early stages of our research collaborations, we are unable to estimate the future costs of treatments integrating conventional western and traditional Chinese medicine. We will continue to monitor the progress and evaluate research evidence supporting not only its effectiveness but also its safety when TCM is used together with modern mainstream medicine.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Joan Pereira asked about the number of ongoing clinical trials for integrative Western and TCM treatments and how the landscape and costs will evolve.
The Ministry of Health has funded eight million dollars through the TCM Research Grant since 2013, supporting ten projects in various stages, including trials on acupuncture for dry eyes and TCM for childhood asthma.
TCM currently plays a complementary role in Singapore’s healthcare system, with some treatments like acupuncture incorporated where evidence supports efficacy and safety.
The Ministry is in early research stages and cannot yet estimate future costs of integrated treatments but will continue monitoring progress and evaluating evidence.
A third grant call closed in June 2018 with proposals under review, indicating ongoing support for collaborative research between TCM practitioners and healthcare institutions.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Treatments that Blend Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine | PAPERCUTS

Treatments that Blend Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Debated in Parliament on 6 Aug 2018.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Joan Pereira asked about the number of ongoing clinical trials for integrative Western and TCM treatments and how the landscape and costs will evolve.
The Ministry of Health has funded eight million dollars through the TCM Research Grant since 2013, supporting ten projects in various stages, including trials on acupuncture for dry eyes and TCM for childhood asthma.
TCM currently plays a complementary role in Singapore’s healthcare system, with some treatments like acupuncture incorporated where evidence supports efficacy and safety.
The Ministry is in early research stages and cannot yet estimate future costs of integrated treatments but will continue monitoring progress and evaluating evidence.
A third grant call closed in June 2018 with proposals under review, indicating ongoing support for collaborative research between TCM practitioners and healthcare institutions.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Joan Pereira

Gan Kim Yong

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Joan Pereira asked about the number of ongoing clinical trials for integrative Western and TCM treatments and how the landscape and costs will evolve.
The Ministry of Health has funded eight million dollars through the TCM Research Grant since 2013, supporting ten projects in various stages, including trials on acupuncture for dry eyes and TCM for childhood asthma.
TCM currently plays a complementary role in Singapore’s healthcare system, with some treatments like acupuncture incorporated where evidence supports efficacy and safety.
The Ministry is in early research stages and cannot yet estimate future costs of integrated treatments but will continue monitoring progress and evaluating evidence.
A third grant call closed in June 2018 with proposals under review, indicating ongoing support for collaborative research between TCM practitioners and healthcare institutions.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Treatments that Blend Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Joan Pereira

Gan Kim Yong

Summary

Questions Identified

Treatments that Blend Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Joan Pereira

Gan Kim Yong

Summary

Questions Identified