Speech by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Communications & Information and Health, at the 42nd Anniversary Celebrations of the Public Free Clinic Society, 4 December 2016

大众医院院长 萧士发先生
全体理事会员
各位嘉宾
各位女士与先生们 

大家下午好。

1.        我很荣幸能受邀出席大众医院第四十二周年庆典。历经四十多年的不断努力经营，大众医院始终秉承“取之于民、用之于民”的原则，为贫苦病黎提供传统中医中药治疗。在此，我感谢大众医院不遗余力，发扬慈善事业为民服务。

2.        传统中医药在新加坡建国之前就已经为人们的健康作出贡献。中医药在养生及保健方面拥有独特的理论，在我国的医疗体系中扮演重要的辅助角色。在过去几十年，许多中医慈善医疗机构也特别关注我国有需要的群体，为他们提供高素质并廉价的医疗帮助、并增加公众对自我保健养生的知识。

3.        自1974年成立以来，大众医院更是秉持理念，不分种族、宗教，为低收入人士提供收费廉宜的诊疗服务。大众医院目前设有四间门诊部，每月都有超过一万五千名病患前往就诊。另外，随着新加坡人口老化，许多乐龄人士行动不便。大众医院因此至2009年起开始登门医疗服务，目前有4辆医疗车为有需要的病人提供免费登门医疗护理。

4.        我们处在一个人口快速老龄化的社会，慢性病症也逐年增加，使得医疗成为社会关注的主要课题。我很高兴了解到大众医院为了应付民众的医疗需求，即将在东海岸区勿洛北设立‘老年病中医治疗中心’以治疗风湿痹症丶中风后遗症、糖尿病等老年相关疾病。希望这能够为更多低收入，年老体弱的老人享有的中医诊治服务。为了鼓励国人维护良好生活习惯，预防各种慢性疾病，大众医院也将会与各区联络所，或于各个分院举办一系列公众保健教育讲座和课程，让居民们对如何使用中医保健疗法有进一步的认识。

5.        在今年十月的中医现代化国际会议上，世界卫生组织总干事陈冯富珍博士强调说，每个国家都必须关注医疗服务的可持续性，并鼓励中医药的现代化及与现代西医药的收敛，以应付二十一世纪独特的医疗挑战^[1]。在同样的会议上，我国卫生部长颜金勇先生也提到说在中医的现代化过程中，教育、临床实践、以及研究这三方面的融合是不可缺少的^[2]。

6.        为了强化中医药界以更好的应付不断演变的医疗需要，人才的培养是至关重要的。新加坡中医管理委员会不仅对医师的注册有严格的要求，还在2013年实行了志愿性的继续教育计划，鼓励中医师们不断提升自我的水平。在中医教育方面，除了协助培训合格中医药保健人才，为学员提供临床实习场所，大众医院也一路秉承继续教育及提升中医师的临床技能。大众医院通过定期举办各类课程及讲座，积极鼓励中医执业者增加临床医学知识、了解不同病案的诊断方式、加强临床操作的安全性及提高紧急危机医疗的处理意识。

7.        科研是促进中医发展的重要途径。我了解大众医院有意开展临床科研项目，对此我表示支持，并期待接下来的研究成绩。我更希望在下一次科研项目召开时，大众医院和其他中医团体可以积极回应，为传统医学的疗效提供依据。

8.        展望未来，我希望新加坡的中医能继续发展与进步，以更好地为人民服务。我借此机会感谢社会各界善心人士，四十年来对大众医院的支持，使得大众医院可以不断发展和提升。在此祝贺大众医院四十二年来奉献，获得社会人士的认可，更希望大众医院能够再接再励，取得更佳的成绩。

9.        谢谢各位。

Mr Seow Ser Fatt, President of Public Free Clinic Society
Board of Committee Members
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good afternoon to all of you.

1.        It is my honour to be invited to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Public Free Clinic Society (PFCS). Over the past 40 years, PFCS has been guided by the principle ‘from the people, for the people’, in providing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) healthcare services to the poor and needy. I would like to thank PFCS for its charitable efforts in serving the people.

2.        TCM has contributed to our population’s health from the days before independence and follows an established set of principles in its approach to health and wellness, and plays an important complementary role in Singapore’s healthcare system. Over the past decades, many TCM charities have been focused on the needy within our population, providing high quality and affordable care for them, and educating the public on health and wellness at the same time.

3.        Since its inception in 1974, PFCS has remained steadfast in its philosophy of offering low-cost TCM services to low-income families regardless of race or religion. PFCS currently has four outpatient clinics in Singapore, benefiting more than 15,000 patients each month. In addition, with Singapore’s ageing population, many seniors have problems travelling to the clinics. As such, PFCS initiated home treatment services in 2009, and currently has four Home Treatment Teams providing free home treatment and care to needy patients.

4.        With our rapidly ageing population and the resulting increased prevalence of chronic diseases, healthcare has become a key concern in Singapore. I am glad to know that to meet the specific health needs of the population, PFCS will be setting up a Geriatrics TCM Treatment Centre in Bedok North, which will treat patients suffering from long-term geriatric diseases such as rheumatism, stroke, diabetes and other age-related illnesses. I hope that the Geriatrics Centre would allow more underprivileged elderly patients to enjoy quality TCM treatment services. To encourage Singaporeans to adopt a healthy lifestyle and prevent the onset of chronic diseases, PFCS also plans to collaborate with community clubs to conduct a series of lectures and workshops so that the public may better understand TCM treatment methods in this area.

5.        At the International Conference on the Modernisation of Chinese Medicine this October, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), had highlighted that every country needed to be concerned about the sustainability of its health services, and encouraged the modernisation of TCM and convergence of TCM and modern medicine, to meet the unique health challenges of the 21st century^[1]. At the same conference, Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong had also spoken on how the integration of the three aspects of education, clinical practice, and research, is essential in the modernisation of TCM^[2].

6.        To strengthen the TCM sector further, so as to better meet the evolving needs of the population, talent development is important. The Singapore TCM Practitioners Board (TCMPB) not only has stringent requirements for the registration of TCM practitioners, but also started a voluntary education initiative in 2013 to encourage practitioners to continue upgrading their standards. Besides taking an active role in training TCM practitioners and providing clinical internship opportunities, PFCS has also worked to enhance the professional knowledge and clinical skills of TCM practitioners. Through regular workshops and lectures, PFCS encourages practitioners to enhance their clinical and diagnosis knowledge, to strengthen the safety of clinical management, and improve the handling of medical emergencies.

7.        Research is an important component for continuous improvement and development of the TCM sector. I understand that PFCS intends to commence a clinical research project. I am in support of this and look forward to the research results. More importantly, I hope that when the next grant call is launched, PFCS and other TCM organisations can respond actively to validate and provide evidence for TCM treatments.

8.        Moving forward, I look forward to the continued development of the local TCM sector to better serve our people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community and kind individuals for their generosity and support to PFCS for the past 40 years, which have enabled PFCS to continue growing. I would also like to congratulate PFCS for its contributions over the past 42 years, which have been well recognised by society, and I hope that PFCS will continue to work hard to achieve greater heights in the future.

9.        Thank you.

^[1]'The Contribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine to Sustainable Development', Keynote Address by Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Margaret Chan at the International Conference on the Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 23 October 2016

^[2]Speech by Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong at the International Conference for the Modernisation of Chinese Medicine, 23 October 2016