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The Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association is an academic organization of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formed by Chinese physicians, founded on 27th October 1946. Its objectives are to unite qualified TCM workers, to protect TCM rights and interests and to advocate TCM learning so as to promote the learning of TCM. To achieve the said objectives, the members of the SCPA held its first joint meeting of all the Sections of the First Council on 27th October 1946. The academic division made a resolution to appoint Physician Zeng Zhi Yuan to approach the press to request for a supplementary page to use as a publication avenue for "Medical Snippets". This led to the initiation of the association medical periodical. Hence, in the same year, on 10th and 28th of December, the SCPA started 2 new bi-weeklies of "Medical Snippets" and "Medical Commission" in the "Nanyang Siang Pau" and "Sin Chew Daily" respectively to advocate TCM learning and to promote TCM development.
For the past 50 over years, the association has published a total of 9 types of medical periodicals. These periodicals respectively undertook different missions in different periods of historical development. According to the years and contents of these publications, they can be classified into 6 development periods, briefly introduced as follows:
Promotion and Development of TCM Learning (1946-1952)
The first development period was from 1946 to 1952 with the main objective of advocating and developing TCM learning. The representative medical periodicals were "Medical Snippets", "Medical Commission" and "Medical values". This period was at the end of World War 2. The world trend of thoughts had entered the initial stage of the atomic era. People were greatly excited by the many scientific achievements and medicine was no exception. The editorial policy of "Medical Snippets" and "Medical Commission" was: "When it comes to learning, we attach great importance to "Qi Hua" (conversion of vital energy) from an inherent academic standpoint, but we must also reference and study the new teachings on "bacteriological" theory". (Bound volume of "Medical Snippets" editor's note). "Medical values" also followed the editorial policy of the two former periodicals and started its publication in 1952 in the "Zhong Xing Daily Paper".
"Medical Snippets" Bi-weekly:
Edited by physician Wu Rui Fu. On 10th December 1946, he asked "Nanyang Siang Pau" for a page in its publication, a total of 84 issues were published.
"Medical Commission" Bi-weekly:
Edited by physician Wu Rui Fu. On 28th December 1946, it started publication in the "Sin Chew Daily". A total of 30 issues were published.
"Medical values" Bi-weekly:
Initiated on 22nd December 1952. It started publication in the "Zhong Xing Daily Paper", the total number of issues was not known.
Popularisation of TCM and Dissemination of Health Information (1954-1955)
The second development period was from 1954 to 1955, with the objectives of popularising TCM and disseminating health information to the general public. The representative periodical was "Medicine and Health". The publication of this periodical came after the establishment of Chung Hwa Medical Institution and Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine by the SCPA.
The aim of establishing the Chung Hwa Medical Institution was in order to spread TCM learning and to serve patients. The aim of establishing the College was in order to promote the study of TCM and its succession in future generations, while the aim of establishing publication of the medical periodical was to advocate TCM learning and to spread TCM health information. The combined efforts of the three were aimed at spreading TCM and to ensure the succession of TCM.
With regards to the name of "Medicine and Health" and its editorial policy, it was written in the inaugural speech of the first issue that ".......medicine of the atomic era has made advancements from individual treatment to public treatment, while technical applications have progressed from therapeutics to preventive medicine. Therefore, contemporary physicians not only have to pursue higher studies in the skills of medical know-how but also need to cultivate their interest in public health services, so as to prevent the occurrence of all harmful diseases in society as a whole. The name of our periodical is based on this viewpoint.".
"Medicine and Health"
1st issue was published on 1 September 1954.
2nd issue was published on 1 November 1954.
3rd issue was published on 1 January 1955.
4th issue was published on 1 April 1955.
A total of four issues were published in Type 16 format, and sold publicly.
Uniting TCM Physicians in Singapore and Malaya to strive for their Common Rights and Interests (1956-1966)
The 3rd development period was from 1956 to 1966, with the objective of uniting TCM physicians in Singapore and Malaya in order to strive for common rights and interests. The representative periodicals were the "Malayan Traditional Chinese Medical Association Journal" and "Singapore and Malaya Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine". In order to strengthen the great unity of TCM circles in Singapore and Malaysia, the "Malayan Chinese Traditional Chinese Medical Association" was officially founded on 30 January 1955. The "Malaysian Traditional Chinese Medical Association Journal" was published in December 1956. This was the first time that Singapore and Malaya had jointly compiled and published a medical periodical. The SCPA took charge of the editorial work. Unfortunately, this association periodical published only one issue and ceased publication shortly after.
In 1961, it again jointly compiled and published the "Singapore and Malaya Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine" quarterly. A total of four issues were published. Once again,the SCPA took charge of the editorial work. On 22 September 1954, the Malayan federal government announced a levy of 25% on the import of TCM medicines and the impact on the TCM circles in Singapore and Malaya was far-reaching. In view of this, the Selangor Traditional Chinese Drugs Association took the lead to organise the Singapore and Malaya Drugs Organizations Representative Congress. There were 14 organizations in attendance. This was Singapore and Malaya's unprecedented first TCM drugs organizations' representative congress. After the congress, they formed the "Federation of Traditional Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Association of Malaya". Therefore, during this period, the task of the TCM circles, besides continuing to spread TCM, was to unite the TCM circles and strive for common rights and interests. The above two periodicals were compiled and published with the editorial policy succeeded from the working policy of the Federation.
"Malaysian Traditional Chinese Medical Association Journal"
First issue was published on 31 December 1956 (only one issue published).
"Singapore and Malaya Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine"
1st issue was published in 1961.
2nd issue was published in May 1963.
3rd issue was published in December 1964.
4th issue was published in December 1965.
A total of 4 issues were published and were not for sale.
Uniting Members to Protect their Rights and Interests and to Promote TCM Learning (1967-1979)
The 4th development period was from 1967 to 1979, with the objectives of uniting members to protect their rights and interests and promoting TCM medical learning. The representative medical periodical was the "Newsletter". Its editorial policy was explained in the inaugural speech of the first issue: "The publication of the Newsletter will keep the members informed about the developments of our association, the news of the medical circles and the current situation of members. More importantly, from the standpoint of upholding TCM, it will unite members together to protect all the rights and interests of TCM". During this period, new achievements and findings from China on TCM treatments and researches were continuously spreading. In 1971, when the Chinese government announced the results of the acupuncture anaesthesia research, a lot of interest was generated. In 1972, after U.S. President Nixon visited China, the "Acupuncture Craze" was started. The "Newsletter" also introduced a large number of such reports, setting off a wave of TCM learning in Singapore.
The "Newsletter" was initiated on 1st May 1967.
The first and second issues were in newspaper format Type 16.
The third to the eighth issue (March 1968 to March 1970) were changed to the newspaper format.
The ninth to the nineteenth issue (October 1970 to December 1979) were published as Type 16 format.
A total of 19 issues were published.
Strengthening Academic Research on TCM and Promoting International Academic Exchange (1980-1997)
The fifth development period was from 1980 to 1997 with the objectives of strengthening TCM learning and promoting international academic exchange. The representative medical periodicals were the "Singapore Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine" and the "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine". Ever since SCPA sent a delegation to attend the "Asia International Congress of Traditional Chinese Medicine" held in Australia in 1979, the network and contact between the SCPA and external TCM organisations has been ever increasing. In addition, with the completion of the Chung Hwa Medical Institution building, it became imperative for the SCPA to intensify and improve our academic research. It was written in the inaugural issue of "Singapore Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine" that: "With regards to external environment,
1) it is hoped that our periodical can become a publication truly representing Singapore TCM learning, and through the periodical, have mutual academic exchange with all the medical organisations in the whole world;
2) this publication can allow persons of outstanding talent from the Singapore TCM circle to bring their respective intellectual brilliance into full play, to enable them to fully express their personal experience of academic research and valuable clinical experience, thereby making useful contributions to TCM learning."
The "Singapore Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine" was initiated on 1st September 1980 and up till July 1990, during which it had published 28 issues altogether. In September 1983, the SCPA published a special edition on the "First ASEAN Congress of Traditional Chinese Medicine" in the ninth issue. In 1992, it published a commemorative special issue of the "Fourth ASEAN Congress on Traditional Chinese Medicine". In 1991, the SCPA published another new periodical, the "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine", with emphasis on reflecting the local standards of TCM. Up till 1995, it had published 6 issues altogether. In addition, in order to strengthen the contact between members, the association decided to initiate the publication of "Newsletter" in 1995.
Growing with the Information Age and Strengthening of Internal and External Publicity (1998 )
Starting from 1998, the SCPA decided to concentrate its efforts on publishing two periodicals. On the TCM learning front, it is represented by the "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine", which has an emphasis on the reporting of the general conditions of TCM learning in Singapore. On the association affairs front, it is represented by the "Newsletter", which emphasises strengthening internal and external contacts. At present, it has published a total of 21 issues.
At the inception of the 40th SCPA Council, it was resolved that a division would be set up for management of the network information, publicity and publishing matters, and it would be solely responsible for publishing and network information and other publicity matters.
The network information, publicity and publishing team, focusses on publishing two publications. On the academic front, the "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine" as the main publication. Apart from reflecting Singapore TCM's academic profile, but also, through the magazine, allows exchanges with other TCM physicians around the world. On the conference reporting front, the "Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association News Bulletin" is the main publication, which focusses on strengthening the internal network and communication between members and branches.
The "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine" is published every six months, and since June 2006, it has published a total of 20 issues, and December 2006, a total of 21 issues. The "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine" (Issue 20) had 23 contributors in total and 8 overseas contributors, and the "Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Magazine" (Issue 21) had 30 contributors in total and 12 overseas contributors, 40% of the total number of contributors.
The "Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association News Bulletin" is published every three months, and since May 2006, it has published a total of 18 issues, August 2006, a total of 19 issues, November 2006, it has published a total of 20 issues, and February 2007, it has published a total of 21 issues. Following the division meeting, it was decided that from February 2007 (Issue 21), the name Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association News Bulletin" would be changed to "Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association Newsletter".
In September 2006, the "Introduction to the Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association and its subsidiaries" was published, and is used for external exchange, to allow the public to better understand the Association and its organization and the operations of its various subsidiaries.
The website of the Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association is also currently undergoing major revamping to upgrade its contents with the latest information and updates for the reading pleasure of internet visitors.
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