30 August, 2017
On 2 August 2017, the Ministry of Health ("MOH") announced that it will provide additional funding of S$5 million for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant ("TCMRG") to develop and support the Traditional Chinese Medicine ("TCM") sector. This additional S$5 million funding bolsters the $3 million which had earlier been put aside for the TCM sector in December 2012 for the same purpose.
In particular, the funding aims to support skills development for TCM professionals, as well as encourage collaborative research between researchers in public healthcare institution, TCM industry players and institutes of higher learning.
The additional funding also comes with new changes to the TCMRG. The funding is now extended to TCM course providers to conduct more local TCM conferences, seminars, workshops or other training programmes for TCM practitioners. The scope of the TCMRG has also been extended to include research on traditional Chinese exercise (e.g. taiji and baduanjin), therapies (e.g. tuina) and use of TCM medicinal herbs and products.
The additional funding reflects a recognition of the increased importance of TCM in Singapore. In its press release, MOH noted that TCM plays an important complementary role in the healthcare industry, particularly in preventive healthcare and primary care. This coheres with MOH's strategic thrust to prepare Singapore for an ageing population.
Applications for TCMRG will open in January 2018. More details can be found in the MOH's Press Release here.
For further information, please contact:
Andy Leck, Principal, Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow
andy.leck@bakermckenzie.com
