I have recently started going to Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution at Toa Payoh to get weekly acupuncture for my chronic neck, shoulder and lower back pain.
Acupuncture easily costs S$50 a session in private clinics, but it’s just S$17 for Singapore citizens and permanent residents at Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institute.
Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution’s History
Chung Hwa Medical Institution has been providing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since 1978. A group of TCM physicians founded Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Association (SCPA) which in turn founded Chung Hwa Medical Institution in 1946. The government gave SCPA a plot of land in Toa Payoh in return for the land that Chung Hwa Free clinic in Geylang was located. Taxi drivers, trishaw riders and business leaders donated to the construction of Chung Hwa Medical Institution that stands proudly in Toa Payoh now.
I really like the stately building that Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution is housed in Toa Payoh. The white and green tiled roofs with pointy arched tip gives it a sense of authority. Many elements inside the building from the red pillars to the stone steps that lead to the second floor reminds me of an era long gone.
Besides its headquarters in Toa Payoh, Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution now has 4 branches in Yishun, Woodlands, Bukit Panjang and Joo Chiat.
Getting Acupuncture in Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution
I highly recommend making an appointment beforehand especially for Pain Management which only has evening clinics on Mondays and Fridays.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you will need to fill in a health declaration form, check-in with TraceTogether token or app and check your temperature at the entrance.
Once inside, you can proceed to Counter 3 if you have made a prior appointment. If you have no appointment, scan your NRIC at the Queue Ticketing Kiosk and you will be given a queue number. Wait for your queue number to be called and let the staff know what you are seeing doctor for. You will make payment on the spot and the staff gives you a receipt. The top of the receipt tell you the room number and your queue number for that room.
Rooms 1-10 are on the ground floor, just opposite the registration counters. Rooms 11-25 are on the second floor, the only way to go up is to climb the stairs in the middle of the hall.
Being one of the most established TCM medical institutions in Singapore, you will often see TCM students do attachments here.
Once inside the consultation room, the doctor will ask what the problem is and examine you. If you are getting acupuncture, each session lasts 20-60 minutes.
What Type of Illnesses Does Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution Treat?
Besides acupuncture, Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution also treats a whole range of illnesses:
- Oncology (Cancer)
- Gastroenterology (Digestive System)
- Pain Management,
- Cardiovascular Diseases (Heart/Blood Vessels)
- Apoplectic Sequela (Post-Stroke Syndrome).
- Ophthalmology (Eye)
- Fertility
- Diabetes
- Parkinson’s Acupuncture
- Pediatrics (Children)
- Alopeciology (Hair Loss)
- Weight Management
- Pelvic Floor Diseases
- Ear Nose Throat
- Soft Tissue Injury Acupuncture
If you ever need traditional Chinese medicine treatments in Singapore, you should definitely go to Chung Hwa Medical Institution.
Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (Toa Payoh – Headquarters
Address: Block 640 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319522
Telephone: 62513304
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 12.30am, 1.30pm – 5pm, 7pm – 9pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)
Yishun Branch
Address: Block 215 Yishun Street 21 #01-301 Singapore 760215
Telephone: 67567830
Woodlands Branch
Address: Block 679 Woodlands Avenue 6 #01-710 Singapore 730679
Telephone: 63663246
Joo Chiat Branch
Address: 291 Joo Chiat Road, JK Centre #02-01 Singapore 427543
Telephone: 6448727
Bukit Panjang Branch
Address: Block 123 Pending Road #01-42 Singapore 670123
Telephone: 67667576
