Digital divide in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) industry in Singapore, specifically the wide contrast between mom-and-pop Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) halls and modernised TCM halls.
Main Problem Identified
Many mom-and-pop TCM halls in Singapore still depend on manual work, such as handwritten prescription and manually cutting the herbs, there might be a delayed treatment for these patients.
Moreover, even when the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board and Ministry of Health provide the latest information on TCM treatments and medicines, practitioners who are not plugged into the digital world may fail to retrieve these data.
Proposed Solutions
To introduce technological service into mom-and-pop TCM halls, such as computer systems to key in prescriptions, using of machine to slice the herbs.
One way for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB) is to advocate these mom-and-pop TCM halls the use of own websites to be digitally updated as TCMPB already have a set of guidelines for website usage. In addition, TCMPB should implement the use of science and technology into mom-and-pop TCM halls.
Existing Solutions
Successful TCM halls such as Eu Yan Sang have successfully implement the use of technology into their daily activities. It is possible to book medical appointments, find out the types of services provided on their website. Eu Yan Sang also have better equipped facilities where the usage of science, such as the Herb Fingerprinting ensures that the quality of medicines dispatched are consistent.
Proposed Thesis
Because in Singapore, the group of pioneer generation who still visits mom-and-pop traditional Chinese medicine halls could receive delayed medical treatment and suffer potential health risks due to little or no internet access for practitioners to retrieve the latest medical treatment and medicines, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board should advocate the use of individual websites as well as to provide technology for practitioners to ensure quality of medicine dispatched.
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