Voluntary Listing Of Chinese Medicinal Materials Dispensers

01 Jun 2005

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners Act was enacted in 2000 to provide for the registration of TCM practitioners, including acupuncturists, TCM physicians and Chinese medicinal materials (CMM) dispensers. The registration of acupuncturists and TCM physicians were started in 2001 and 2002 respectively. This is part of MOH's efforts to safeguard public safety and improve the standards of TCM practitioners.

 In line with this, MOH has been working with the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (STOC), an umbrella body representing the five main local CMM trade organizations, to conduct a formal training course for CMM dispensers. STOC subsequently set up the TCM College in July 2002 to conduct the CMM Dispensers Training Course (CDTC). This is a part time modular programme that comprises a 2-year basic module and a 1-year intermediate module. It has been approved by the TCM Practitioners Board and the first batch of trainees will graduate in December 2005.

 As CDTC has just started, the Ministry will take a step by step approach to the regulation of CMM dispensers. Taking into consideration the current CMM dispensing situation in Singapore, and after consultation with the relevant TCM and CMM community stakeholders, MOH plans to conduct a voluntary listing of CMM dispensers as a first step towards statutory registration at a later date.

 The listing exercise aims to accord recognition to CDTC graduates and encourage more dispensing personnel to upgrade themselves by enrolling in CDTC. Only those who have graduated from the intermediate module of CDTC will be qualified for the listing exercise.

 As the listing exercise is entirely voluntary and does not equate statutory registration, it will not have any implication on the current practice of CMM dispensing. Those who are not listed can still continue the work of CMM dispensing. However, MOH would like to urge all CMM dispensing personnel to upgrade themselves by enrolling in the CDTC.

 Although MOH has no plans to register CMM dispensers currently, once a decision is made on statutory registration of CMM dispensers, it will be announced way in advance, so that those who wish to be registered will have sufficient time and opportunities to enroll in CDTC and qualify for registration.

 MOH will work with STOC and the TCM Practitioners Board on the details of the listing exercise in time for the first batch of CDTC trainees to be listed when they graduate in December 2005.