On April 14, 2026, a delegation led by Mr. Tan Tee How, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Singapore's National Healthcare Group (NHG), visited Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences for academic exchanges and site visits. The delegation included Dr. Wong Chiang Yin, NHG Board Member; Professor Joe Sim, NHG CEO; and a team of senior consultants from Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Li Qiuyan, Party Secretary of Xiyuan Hospital, along with the hospital’s leadership team, department heads, and clinical representatives, attended the event. The meeting was chaired by Fu Jianhua, Director of the Hospital Administration Office.

As one of Singapore’s largest public healthcare clusters, NHG plays a key role in integrating regional medical resources, driving clinical innovation, and cultivating healthcare talent. Its work has a broad social impact and is central to the high-quality development of Singapore’s healthcare system. The delegation sought to gain insight into Xiyuan Hospital’s experience in integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with Western medicine and its approach to developing a world class TCM facility. These insights will inform NHG’s efforts to plan and integrate TCM services into Singapore’s national healthcare system.

Li Qiuyan introduced the 70 year history of Xiyuan Hospital and reviewed the hospital’s cooperation with Singapore since 1992. She especially noted the tangible progress made under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024, particularly in the areas of “overseas physician mentorship” and “continuing education.” Tan Tee How expressed a strong commitment to deepening TCM collaboration and hoped that this visit would help bring TCM into greater practical use within Singapore’s healthcare system, benefiting more people.

Academic exchange highlights: Oncology: Dr. Xu Yun, Director of the Oncology Department, presented the department’s development and clinical services. She focused on the core concepts and methods of an integrated TCM Western medicine approach to cancer care, and shared the department’s achievements in research, education, and international cooperation. Acupuncture: Dr. Zhang Lu, Deputy Director of the Acupuncture Department, introduced recent progress in the translational research and application of acupuncture, from the perspective of collaborative innovation among medical, engineering, and industry partners. TCM Technology Transfer: Dr. Fu Changgeng, Deputy Director of the Scientific Research Office, highlighted representative achievements in TCM innovation and TCM scientific and technological achievement transformation, demonstrating the broad potential of technology driven TCM development. Singapore presentations: Professor Joe Sim and Director Luo Yanling introduced the role of TCM in Singapore’s healthcare system and provided an overview of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, respectively.

Following the presentations, both sides held in depth discussions on topics including the preservation and innovative development of TCM, pathways for integrating TCM and Western medicine, and hospital operations and management. The dialogue helped build further consensus and laid a solid foundation for future collaboration. After the meeting, the delegation experienced AI & sensor-integrated meridian robots and non pharmacological TCM therapies. They also toured Xiyuan Hospital’s smart pharmacy.

This visit has further strengthened the partnership between Xiyuan Hospital and Singapore’s healthcare institutions. In the future, both sides will continue to deepen cooperation in TCM clinical research, talent development, and TCM achievement transformation.

Contributed by: Office of International Exchange and Cooperation