新加坡中医发展困境分析

Development Dilemma of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Singapore

中医传入新加坡后以中医慈善机构为主体推动当地的中医教育、医疗和科研的发展,至2000年中医才被正式纳入国家医疗保健体系,但是中医在新加坡只是作为辅助疗法,未纳入与西医同等的管理机制和津贴体系。受内外因素影响,中医在新加坡的发展仍面临一些困境。现主要从注册、医疗、中药和教育4个方面进行分析,其主要面临的困境:有执照没行医者逐年增加,中医执业者年龄偏大;中医作为辅助疗法,管控严格且未纳入基本医疗保险体系,慈善中医造成不公平的竞争;中药专业人才匮乏,传统中药店面临生存危机;文凭证书缺乏竞争力,毕业起薪低,中医学校招生人数减少等。

After traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)was introduced into Singapore,it played an essential role in promoting the development of TCM education,clinical development and scientific research in the form of charitable clinics.It was included in the Singapore′s healthcare system until 2000 but as complementary therapy,and was not regulated and supported in the same way as western medicine.Moreover,influenced by internal and external factors,the development of TCM in Singapore is in a dilemma now.This paper conducted an analysis from four perspectives,namely registration,clinical development,Chinese medicinals and education.Specifically,the main dilemmas were as follows:the increasing number of licensed TCM practitioners who do not practice,old age in most of TCM practitioners,TCM as complementary therapy under strict control and not covered by basic healthcare insurance,unfair competition among charitable TCM clinics,lack of experts on Chinese medicinals,and traditional medical halls facing survival crisis,graduates with diploma being not competitive as well as with low salary,and low enrollment rate.