TTSH and NTU Partner to Train TCM Students in Integrative Care
From 2027, students pursuing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will receive clinical training at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), marking a significant step in Singapore’s move toward integrative medicine.
The collaboration, named “Prevention and Recovery through Integrative Medicine,” aims to blend Eastern and Western medical practices to improve patient care, particularly in pain management, palliative care, and rehabilitation. It was formally launched on October 9, 2025, at the 23rd Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress held at the Singapore Expo.
Under this initiative, final-year TCM undergraduates from NTU’s Bachelor of Chinese Medicine programme will undergo clinical rotations at TTSH. They will observe how TCM and Western medical approaches can complement each other in real-world patient care, gaining firsthand exposure to integrative practices in Singapore’s healthcare system.
Senior Minister of State for Health Dr Koh Poh Koon, who officiated the signing, said the partnership will enhance training for both TCM and Western medicine students while promoting evidence-based integrative care. “This collaboration will equip more clinicians with skills to meet the growing demand for integrative care approaches,” he said.
According to Dr Quah Teik Joo, head of complementary integrative medicine at TTSH, about 20% of Singaporean adults use TCM services each year, and 40% of them combine TCM with Western treatments. He noted that acupuncture, now offered at TTSH and Ren Ci Community Hospital, has been scientifically proven to help relieve pain by influencing nerve pathways and hormonal responses.
Associate Professor Linda Zhong, director of biomedical sciences and Chinese medicine at NTU, said the programme seeks to merge biomedical science research with traditional medicine. Second-year students Aw Xi Han and Chandraratne Aiko Tiranya Kumari, who recently joined Dr Quah’s clinical rounds, said the attachment gave them a glimpse into the practical applications of TCM in modern healthcare. Ms Aw said she was drawn to TCM for its non-invasive and holistic approach, while Ms Aiko expressed hope to help elderly patients maintain better health in their later years.
Beyond NTU and TTSH, similar integrative practices are already in place across Singapore’s healthcare clusters. At National University Hospital, acupuncture is offered under the Anaesthesia, Pain Management and Acupuncture Clinic, staffed by Western-trained doctors and accredited acupuncturists. Treatments such as cupping therapy, electro-acupuncture, and TCM consultations are used to support pain relief and rehabilitation.
SingHealth has also incorporated acupuncture at several of its hospitals — including Singapore General Hospital, Changi General Hospital, and Sengkang General Hospital — for more than 25 years. Its institutions, such as the National Cancer Centre Singapore and National Neuroscience Institute, are collaborating with local and international partners like Zhong Hua Medical Institute and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan) to advance research in areas such as cancer and dementia.
Alongside this, a new partnership between NHG Health and DFI Retail Group was announced at the same event. The multimillion-dollar collaboration will focus on preventive care and public access to health and wellness products. NHG Health’s chairman, Professor Benjamin Seet, said the goal is to bridge research with practical community health initiatives. “We want to move beyond publishing scientific papers — we want to make evidence-based products that actually reach the public,” he said.
Together, these initiatives signal Singapore’s growing emphasis on integrated, community-oriented healthcare — one that blends traditional wisdom with modern science to improve patient outcomes and long-term wellness.
