Pritam Singh on Building a Healthier SG

Healthier SG offers a newfound opportunity for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and alternative medicine to play a more active role in the primary healthcare space and in preventive healthcare, said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh. He suggested tapping the reach of these practitioners and subsidising them for their endeavours, subject to their contributions to objective criteria under Healthier SG. Mr Singh said the Government could consider extending the use of MediSave for more TCM procedures and alternative therapies that have proven effective in managing general health and preventing chronic diseases. This expansion should include certified TCM practitioners being allowed to offer such approved procedures in their TCM clinics outside public healthcare institutions. To prevent abuse, there could be a fixed and audited list of procedures and fee caps. To lower healthcare costs, Mr Singh suggested exploring alternative medicines that substantively produce the same clinical outcomes as medicines and drugs disbursed by public healthcare institutions. Rehabilitation at TCM clinics would also likely be less costly and more convenient than physiotherapy sessions at many private and public healthcare facilities. Mr Singh spoke in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 5).