New program to address local medical needs, integrate AI and big data, and offer comprehensive training in TCM.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is set to introduce Singapore’s first-ever four-year Bachelor of Chinese Medicine degree program, aimed at addressing the country’s evolving healthcare needs. Slated to begin in 2024, this milestone program will be the first in the nation to offer a Chinese medicine bachelor’s degree conferred by a local university and accredited by the Ministry of Health’s Chinese Medicine Management Committee.

During the program’s launch ceremony on November 15, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted the growing role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Singapore’s healthcare system. He pointed out the increasing integration of TCM with Western medicine, noting that from the late 1990s, as evidence of its effectiveness grew, public hospitals in Singapore began offering acupuncture treatments to patients.

NTU’s new degree program builds on the university’s previous collaboration with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, which since 2005 has offered a five-year dual-degree program in biomedical sciences and traditional Chinese medicine. This initiative has already produced over 430 TCM professionals.

Minister Ong emphasized the rising interest among local students in pursuing TCM studies and noted the strong demand for TCM treatments in the community. As a result, NTU, together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, decided to launch Singapore’s first local bachelor’s program in Chinese medicine.

The new curriculum will focus on addressing key health issues facing Singapore, such as aging, diabetes, and stroke. It will also incorporate innovative elements like artificial intelligence and big data in clinical research, ensuring that students gain a holistic understanding of TCM while being equipped with modern tools to tackle contemporary health challenges.

The program will begin with 25 spots for its first cohort, with plans to expand to 40 students per year. Enrollment in the existing dual-degree programs will gradually phase out starting next year.