SPEECH BY DR AMY KHOR, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AT THE SINGAPORE CHINESE MEDICINES AND HEALTH PRODUCT MERCHANT ASSOCIATION’S 20 TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY, ON 23 AUGUST 2019, 8.00PM AT SAFRA TOA PAYOH

中国大使馆 经济商务 公使衔参赞 钟曼英公参

新加坡中国医药保健品商会陈立发会长

诸位中医药界的朋友们

女士们、先生们,

大家晚上好！

Mdm Zhong Man Ying, Minister Counsellor (Economic & Commercial), Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Singapore 

Mr Chen Lifa, President, Chinese Medicine & Health Products Association of Singapore

Friends of the Chinese medical fraternity 

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

Good evening to all.

     今晚“新加坡中国医药保健品商会”在这里举行第二十届执委就职典礼，我很荣幸受邀主持执委的宣誓仪式及担任晚会主宾。首先，我向陈立发会长和当选的执委们表示衷心的祝贺。

     I am honoured to be invited to officiate at the swearing-in ceremony of the 20^th Executive Committee of the Singapore Chinese Medical and Health Products Association (SCMPHA) this evening. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Tan and the elected members.   

2    贵会会员所制造的中医药,配合政府严格的监管和执照管制,在本地和国际上赢得了良好的声誉。我也高兴得知贵会与新加坡中医药协会合作,与亚细安成员国代表合作制定生产标准以确保传统医药和保健产品的品质与质量，作出了重要贡献。

     The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and healthcare products produced and managed by the SCHMPA members under strict regulatory and licensing controls, have gained a good reputation locally and internationally.  I am also happy to note that SCHMPA, together with the Singapore Chinese Medicine Association (STOC), has made important contributions though collaboration with ASEAN member states to formulate guidelines and set standards to ensure the quality of traditional medicines and health products.

3    随着我国人口的老龄化,中医药可以在我国医疗体系中扮演更重要的角色，应对慢性疾病流行率上升等医疗挑战。卫生部致力于提升中医药的水平和专业素质。过去五年,卫生部通过设立中医药研究津贴和中医药发展津贴，加大力度支持中医药专业发展。科研所得出的统计数据不但能指导政府拟定未来中医中药的政策,同时也可以教育公众关于医药的疗效。

     As our population ages, TCM can play a bigger role in our healthcare system in addressing healthcare challenges such as increased chronic disease prevalence. To support the growth of the TCM industry, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is committed to improving the standards and professionalism of TCM. In the last five years, MOH has stepped up efforts to support TCM professional development through the establishment of the TCM Research Grant and TCM Development Grant. These are important as robust research studies can guide policy-making, and educate the public on the efficacy of TCM treatment. 

4    我很高兴与大家分享，刚截至的第四次科研招标活动，共吸引了21项高素质的研究计划。所研究的课题包括中医药在治疗和控制糖尿病和高血压等慢性疾病的有效性，以及中医药对抑郁症等精神疾病的治疗效果。我们的中医药研究咨询委员会们目前正在进行审批工作，成功的申请者将随后接获通知。

     I am happy to share that the recently concluded fourth grant call attracted a total of 21 good quality research proposals with research interests ranging from demonstrating the effectiveness of TCM treatments in managing chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension to mental health conditions like depression. The proposals are currently pending review from the TCM Research Advisory Committee and successful applicants will be notified in due course.

5    今年2月初 , 国会通过中医师注册修正案。修正案的目的是更好地保障病人的利益和安全, 提高注册中医师纪律框架的及时性和公平性, 以及通过强制性继续教育进修计划提高中医师们的专业水平。贵会也能在这方面做出贡献，成为获得认证的培训机构，为中医师们提供优质的专业继续教育培训。获认证的培训机构将能利用中医药发展津贴，协助支付举办活动的费用。    

     In February this year, Parliament passed the amendments to the TCMP Act. The objectives of the amendments are to better protect patients' interests and safety, improve the timeliness and fairness of the disciplinary framework for registered TCMPs, and raise professional standards through compulsory Continuing Professional Education or CPE. Members of SCMHPMA can contribute in this area by becoming accredited training providers to conduct good quality CPE training for TCM practitioners. Accredited training providers can tap on the TCM Development Grant to help defray cost of organising events. 

6    在我们致力于更好地保护病人安全和提高专业水平的当时 , 我们意识到一些中医师对法案修正案的其他方面存在一些顾虑，比如提高违规中医师的最高罚款额。加重刑罚的目的是让中医管理委员会有更大的灵活空间判处与罪行严重程度相适应的刑罚，以及能更严厉处分那些损害专业声誉的害群之马。此外，中医药纪律程序与其他医疗专业的衔接，也提高了公众对中医药的信心。

     As we strive to better protect patient safety and raise professional standards, we are aware there are concerns among TCMPs on other aspects of the bill amendments, such as the increase in the maximum financial penalty for errant TCMPs. This change is necessary to provide the TCMP Board greater flexibility in meting out penalties appropriate to the gravity of the offences and to those who bring disrepute to the profession. The alignment of the TCM disciplinary processes with that of other healthcare professions also raises public confidence in TCM. 

7    我相信，绝大部分中医师都是医术医德兼备的良医，维持了高素质的专业标准，也保护了病人的利益。过去五年，中医师的法定投诉数目介于每年4至9宗之间。对于被病人投诉的医师们, 新加坡中医师公会也为会员提供支持，协助他们和病人之间进行调解。

     I want to reiterate that the majority of TCMPs uphold high professional standards in their practice and have their patients’ best interest. The number of statutory complaints against TCM practitioners ranged from 4 to 9 per year for the last 5 years. For those who may be the subject of complaints, the Singapore Chinese Physician Association also provides support to its members in mediating between TCMPs and patients. 

8    要进一步发展中医药，需要整个中医药界的集体努力与合作。我相信贵会在陈立发先生的领导下 , 将能在先辈奠定的坚实基础上，把新加坡的中医药业提升与发展做出更大的贡献！ 

     There is much more we can do to further develop TCM in Singapore and we need the collective effort of the entire TCM community. I believe SCMHPMA, under the leadership of Mr Chen Lifa, will be able to build on the strong foundation laid by its pioneer members to bring Singapore’s TCM industry to greater heights.

9    我祝大家今晚身体健康。谢谢。   

     I wish everyone present here tonight good health. Thank you.