28/12/2024
A 78-year-old woman, Ms Liu, was found unconscious in her bed on 10 November after receiving TCM treatments. Her family discovered she had paid $17,290 for two treatment packages from a TCM clinic in September and October 2024.
Doctors diagnosed Ms Liu with gastric bleeding requiring emergency surgery. She spent three days in intensive care. Medical staff identified that certain external Chinese herbs containing steroids could increase stomach acid production, potentially causing ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
The TCM clinic refused to disclose the ingredients of the medicine used in Ms Liu's treatment when her daughter inquired. This led her son, Mr Cai, to file reports with the police, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB), and Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).
The TCMPB informed the family that formal complaints against TCM practitioners require a statutory declaration - a legally binding statement signed before an authorized official like a commissioner for oaths.
All TCM practitioners in Singapore must register with the TCMPB under the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act of 2000. The TCMPB accredits educational institutions and monitors professional conduct.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) regulates Chinese Proprietary Medicines (CPM) in Singapore. CPM products must meet safety standards, and dealers need HSA licenses to operate.
