Singapore’s hospitals expand integrative care education
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are launching a pioneering collaboration to train traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) students on real-world patient care. Starting in 2027, final-year NTU students enrolled in the four-year Bachelor of Chinese Medicine program will join junior doctors on clinical rounds at TTSH. The aim is to explore how TCM can complement Western medical approaches in pain management, symptom relief, and rehabilitation.
A formal partnership to accelerate integrative medicine
The collaboration, named Prevention and Recovery through Integrative Medicine, was formalized at the 23rd Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress. Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon noted that the initiative aligns clinical and academic efforts while offering cross-training for both TCM and Western medical students. The program also seeks to advance evidence-based practices in integrative medicine as part of Singapore’s evolving healthcare strategy.
What the training will involve
From 2027, final-year TCM students will undertake clinical rotations at TTSH. They will observe how TCM modalities — including but not limited to acupuncture, herbal approaches, and other traditional techniques — can be integrated with conventional care. The experience is designed to be practical and Singapore-specific, ensuring students learn how to tailor care to the local patient population and healthcare infrastructure.
A broader vision for patient care
Dr Koh emphasized that the partnership will prepare clinicians to meet growing demand for integrative care, while helping students understand both medical paradigms. Professor Benjamin Seet, who chairs NHG’s Academic Partnership Office, highlighted the value in strengthening TCM practitioners’ training and fostering collaborative environments where biomedical science and traditional therapies inform each other.
Evidence, research, and clinical practice
Dr Quah Teik Joo, head of complementary integrative medicine at TTSH, referenced recent data showing one in five Singaporean adults use TCM annually, with many combining TCM and Western medicine. The project will explore the full spectrum of TCM, not only acupuncture, which is already available at TTSH and affiliated facilities. Inpatient TCM services, acupuncture and related therapies are part of the hospital’s ongoing integrative approach to pain management and rehabilitation.
Student perspectives and motivations
Two second-year TCM students, Aw Xi Han and Chandraratne Aiko Tiranya Kumari, accompanied clinicians on rounds to gain early exposure to integrative patient care. Aw expressed appreciation for TCM’s holistic approach and its long history of maintaining balance, while Aiko cited her passion for Chinese culture and a desire to improve elderly health outcomes. Their early experiences foreshadow how future clinicians may work alongside Western physicians in complex cases.
Beyond TTSH: a wider network of integrative care
Singapore’s health system already features integrative medicine pathways across major clusters. National University Hospital and SingHealth report established acupuncture services integrated with anesthesia, pain management, and broader patient care. Collaborations with academic and medical partners continue to expand research, education, and practical applications of TCM in cancer care, dementia research, and stroke rehabilitation. The TTSH-NTU partnership adds another crucial piece to this evolving landscape.
Implications for the future
The collaboration signals a shift toward more collaborative, multidisciplinary training that values both biomedical science and traditional medicine. By exposing students to real-world rounds and patient-centered care, the program aims to produce clinicians adept at designing personalized, evidence-informed treatment plans. If successful, the model could inform similar programs across Asia, advancing integrative medicine as a standard component of modern healthcare.
