Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution

What Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution does

Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (SCHMI, 中华医院) is a charitable Institution of a Public Character (IPC) founded in 1952 that delivers subsidized Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consultation and treatment services across six branches in Singapore: Toa Payoh (headquarters), Yishun, Woodlands, Bukit Panjang, Marine Parade, and Novena. The organization serves more than 1,000 patients per day regardless of nationality, race, or religion, with explicit emphasis on elderly and financially disadvantaged patients who receive half-fee or full fee exemptions and medication subsidies. SCHMI is affiliated with the Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association, and all approximately 520 physicians (500 duty physicians including Clinical Lecturers and 20 station physicians) are registered with the TCM Practitioners Board under Singapore's Ministry of Health.

SCHMI's clinical offering spans general TCM Internal Medicine, Acupuncture, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Dermatology, and Tuina, together with 13 specialty clinics covering Oncology, Fertility, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Ear Nose Throat, Weight Management, Alopeciology/Hair Care, Pelvic Floor Disorders, Preventive Medicine, Pain Management, Post-Stroke, and Geriatrics. Supporting infrastructure includes over-the-counter medication sales, a Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden, a TCM Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program delivered in-person and via Tencent VooV/Zoom, a Queue Management System across all six branches, and an E-Appointment booking platform.

SCHMI operates as a nonprofit with annual operational expenditure of approximately S$9 million. Consultation and treatment fees (General $11, Specialty $21, Adjunct Physician $38, Special Care $53 per visit, plus usage-based medication charges of $2–$10/day) cover roughly 60% of costs, with the remaining ~40% (~S$3.6M) funded by public donations accepted through an online portal, PayNow (UEN 201109599Z), DBS bank transfer, NETS, and celebration/funeral gift coupons. Donations are eligible for 2.5x tax deduction under its IPC status. Volunteer physicians receive no salary, which structurally underpins the subsidized pricing model.

Name

Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution

Legal name

Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution

Website

https://zhonghuayiyuan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution is a 1952-founded charitable IPC providing subsidized Traditional Chinese Medicine consultations and treatments across six Singapore branches, serving 1,000+ patients daily through ~520 volunteer physicians, with 40% of its ~S$9M annual costs funded by public donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toa Payoh

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Consultation and Treatment Fees: Revenue from consultation fees (General $3, Specialty $10, Adjunct Physician $27, Special Care $42), upfront treatment fees ($8), and additional treatment charges ($5-$15 per treatment)
2. Medication Sales: Charged according to type of medicine and number of days prescribed. Subsidized up to 8 days of medications. Prices range from $2/day for tablets to $10/day for granules
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 40% of annual operational expenditure ($9 million) relies on public donations and charitable contributions. Minimum donation of S$10 per transaction
4. Medical Reports: Fees for issuing medical reports to patients upon request

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (中华医院) is a nonprofit charitable healthcare organization delivering Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services across six branches in Singapore. It operates with approximately 500 duty physicians and 20 station physicians, serving more than 1,000 patients daily through TCM consultations, acupuncture, and herbal medication dispensing. The institution functions as an Institution of a Public Character (IPC), funded by a combination of consultation revenue (~60%) and charitable donations (~40%), with annual expenditure of approximately S$9 million.

Product overview

Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (中华医院/SCHMI) operates as a charitable TCM healthcare organization providing Traditional Chinese Medicine consultations and treatments across six branches in Singapore (Toa Payoh HQ, Yishun, Woodlands, Bukit Panjang, Marine Parade, Novena). The core offering is TCM consultation services delivered by approximately 500 duty physicians and 20 station physicians, covering general internal medicine and 13 specialty areas: TCM Oncology, TCM Fertility, TCM Gastroenterology, TCM Cardiology, TCM Ophthalmology, TCM Paediatrics, TCM Ear Nose Throat, TCM Weight Management, TCM Alopeciology, TCM Pelvic Floor Disorders, TCM Preventive Medicine, TCM Pain Management, TCM Post-Stroke Management, and TCM Geriatrics. Supporting services include over-the-counter medication sales, a Chinese medicinal herb garden for education, TCM Continuing Professional Education for practitioners, and charitable donation services. Digital infrastructure includes a Queue Management System (QMS) for all branches, E-Appointment booking system, and an e-HR system for staff management. The institution serves over 1,000 patients daily on a subsidized charity basis, with 40% of operational costs funded through public donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TCM Consultation Services
• TCM Specialty Clinics
• OTC Medication and Herbal Dispensary
• Charitable Donation Programme
• TCM Continuing Professional Education

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 1000 patients per day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VIVA Hub (Novena Specialist Centre)minorOthers · 1 January 2023SCHMI Novena branch is located at VIVA Hub, Novena Specialist Centre, providing clinic space for TCM consultation services.
• Dr. Tan See LengminorOthers · 1 January 2023Minister of Manpower and Second Minister of Trade and Industry served as guest of honor at SCHMI Marine Parade Branch Commencement Ceremony cum Tree Planting Event on July 30, 2023.
• Singapore Chinese Physicians' AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952SCHMI is affiliated with the Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association. All physicians are members of SCPA and registered TCM practitioners with the TCM Practitioners' Board under Ministry of Health. Since 1995, the Institution has engaged Professors and experts from China as Advisers for Specific Medical Condition Physicians to provide clinical training and conduct talks.
• Ministry of Health (MOH) - TCM Practitioners BoardcoreOthersAll SCHMI physicians are registered TCM practitioners with the TCM Practitioners' Board under Ministry of Health. SCHMI participates in TCM Development Grant (TCMDG) program allowing practitioners to claim 80% of course fees (capped at $200/year) for continuing professional education.
• Ministry of Health (MOH) SingaporecoreOthersMOH provides the Traditional Chinese Medicine Development Grant (TCMDG) which covers 80% of total course fees for TCM practitioners (capped at $200 per year). SCHMI encourages all TCM practitioners to apply for this grant before 31 December each year.
• CDAC (Chinese Development Assistance Council)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSCHMI conducts regular TCM health talks at CDAC centers including Tanjong Katong and other CDAC locations as part of community outreach.
• Community Clubs and Residents' NetworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSCHMI partners with various community organizations including Woodlands Community Club, Marine Drive Garden Residents' Network, and other RCs for health talks and community wellness events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ma Kuang Healthcare Group: Singapore-listed TCM clinic chain offering consultations, acupuncture, and tuina across multiple outlets. Comparable as a multi-branch TCM clinic operator, though structured as a private commercial provider rather than an IPC charity.
• Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution: A fellow large charitable TCM organization in Singapore providing subsidized TCM consultation and treatments. Operates a similar IPC-funded, volunteer-physician model with multiple branches, making it the closest direct comparability benchmark to SCHMI in Singapore.

Broad incumbents

• Raffles Medical Group: Singapore's largest private integrated healthcare provider operating clinics across the country. Comparable as a multi-branch outpatient healthcare network serving Singapore, though focused on Western medicine and operating commercially rather than charitably.
• NTUC Health Co-operative: Singapore-based healthcare co-operative offering outpatient clinics, eldercare, and TCM services. Comparable as a multi-branch outpatient healthcare operator with TCM exposure, serving a similar elderly and community patient base.
• Eu Yan Sang International: Established regional TCM brand and clinic operator across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, combining TCM clinics with retail Chinese medicine products. Comparable as a TCM service provider but operates commercially rather than as a charity.

Regional players

• Tung Wah Group of Hospitals: One of Hong Kong's largest charitable organizations operating TCM clinics alongside Western medical and eldercare services. Comparable as a charitable multi-service healthcare institution rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, though serving Hong Kong rather than Singapore.
• Yan Chai Hospital: Hong Kong-based charitable organization operating TCM clinics among broader medical and social services. Comparable in charitable TCM service delivery model, but regional to Hong Kong and not competing directly in Singapore.

Emerging players

• Singapore Paincare Holdings: Singapore-listed medical services group with TCM pain management services. Comparable as a Singapore-based TCM-specialist operator, though structured as a smaller commercial clinic chain focused on pain rather than general TCM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SGChungHwa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/singapore-chung-hwa-medical-institution

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution