From painkillers to acupuncture: Singapore's public hospitals expand TCM use in acute care
Singapore's public hospitals are increasingly integrating acupuncture into acute care settings, such as emergency departments, to treat back pain and aid in stroke recovery. The Ministry of Health is exploring a broader role for traditional Chinese medicine alongside conventional Western treatments.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in public health policy toward integrative medicine in a modern clinical environment.
Some hospitals are now offering acupuncture alongside conventional treatment for back pain, stroke recovery and cancer-related symptoms.
An acupuncture needle being removed in a demonstration at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on Aug 21, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)
Vanessa Lim 28 Aug 2026 06:00AM (Updated: 28 Aug 2026 02:26PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SINGAPORE: A patient arriving at a hospital emergency department with severe acute back pain might expect painkillers, scans or physiotherapy.
But at some public hospitals, another option is increasingly entering the mix: Acupuncture.
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