Speech By Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister Of State For Health, at the 8th Annual Meeting Of the Specialty Committee of Traditional Chinese Medicine Ophthalmology Of The World Federation Of Chinese Medicine Societies, 19 October 2018

Dr Teo Eng Kiat, President, Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Association (SCPA)

新加坡中医师公会会长 赵英杰博士

Committee Members, World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS)

世界中医药学会联合会各位委员

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

各位嘉宾、先生、女士们

         Good morning! I am honoured to be here today at the 8^th Annual Meeting of the Specialty Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Ophthalmology of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS).

          大家早上好！我很荣幸今天能够参加世中联第八届中医眼科年会新加坡国际会议。

2         TCM ophthalmology has been recorded in ancient texts, with the earliest records dating back to the 13^th century. TCM ophthalmology treatments are still widely practised today. With an ageing population, the incidence of eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract is expected to rise. Among younger Singaporeans, myopia is prevalent. As we age, our vision will naturally change as well. We have observed that more patients are seeking complementary TCM treatment while undergoing mainstream eye screenings and treatment. TCM’s unique principles and treatment methods, including the use of herbs, acupuncture and moxibustion, can play a useful complementary role and help to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients.

           中医眼科学具有悠久的历史，早在公元前13世纪就有记载，而且至今仍普遍使用于临床。在新加坡，随着我国人口老龄化，眼睛疾病如年龄相关性黄斑变性、青光眼、白内障等将日趋普遍。在年轻国人当中，患有近视的人也比比皆是。不少患者在接受西医检查和治疗的同时，也寻求中医的帮助。中医以其独特理论及治疗方法如草药、针灸、耳豆贴等的使用，可以扮演辅助的角色，协助患者取得更好的临床结果。

3          To encourage TCM research, the Ministry of Health (MOH) established the TCM Research Grant in 2014. Under the support of the grant, Chung Hwa Medical Institution, a subsidiary of Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Association, collaborated with the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) on a clinical trial to develop a treatment that combines TCM and western treatment for dry eye symptoms. The three-year study found that the use of both acupuncture and lubricant eye drops was more effective than the use of eye drops alone, and acupuncture helped to reduce inflammation in the eyes. I am happy to note that the findings have been published in The BMJ Open Ophthalmology journal.

           卫生部在2014年为了鼓励中医走向科研，设立中医药科研基金。在该基金的支持下，新加坡眼科研究院与新加坡中医师工会属下的中华医院眼科组联合进行了一项中西医治疗干眼症的科研项目。这项历时三年的研究结果显示：相对单纯使用人工泪液，人工泪液加上针刺治疗对轻中程度干眼更有效，同时较能降低干眼炎症反应。我很高兴得知这份科研报告已发表在英国医药期刊附属的公开眼科期刊。

4         The third TCM Research Grant call which concluded in June received a total of 21 applications. The shortlisted projects will be announced soon. We look forward to seeing more high quality project proposals that can contribute to the body of local and international research in TCM.

          中医药科研基金的第三轮征集活动已在六月尾截止。卫生部一共收到了21份申请项目，获选项目将在不久后公布。我们期待更多高质量、有潜力的项目为新加坡和国际中医界提供更多强而有利的循证依据。

5         Research requires time and is resource intensive, and may not always yield positive findings. Nonetheless, evidence-based research is necessary to highlight the continued value and relevance of TCM today. We need more of such research to support the long term development of TCM. TCM research in Singapore is still in its nascent stage, and we hope that academic meetings such as the one today will provide local and foreign TCM practitioners with greater opportunities to discuss, debate, and be inspired to embark on more research projects.

          科研工作需要投入大量的时间和精力。即使如此，也不一定能一帆风顺，取得所谓的成功。但是，只有通过科研才能为传统中医药的使用提供循证依据，并肯定中医药在现今医学发达的时代仍然有其存在价值，为中医中药的长远发展奠定良好的基础。新加坡在中医科研方面算是处于初起阶段，希望借由像本次会议这种学术性的平台，让我国中医师能多多与各位国内外专家交流并得到启发，在未来，不止着重于临床，也适当地开拓科研项目。

6         I wish you a fruitful conference. Thank you.

           最后，恭祝本次会议完满举行，相信大家必定能从会议中有所收获，祝大家度过充实的一天。谢谢！