Our Commitment to Professional Standards and Good Governance

Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) refers to the social media posts by Dr Lim Xiang Jun, who served as a volunteer Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician at our facilities from 2017 to July 2026, and wishes to provide clarification on the matter.

Our Management takes this matter seriously as it concerns our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and the community we serve. To better understand the issues raised and establish the relevant facts, we formed a taskforce to conduct a careful and thorough review before making any public statement.

As a non-profit organisation, Tzu Chi operates two TCM Free Clinics, among other facilities, and is supported by dedicated volunteers, including Dr Lim. Since the establishment of our TCM free clinics, we have remained committed to upholding the Code of Ethics established by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB).

In 2026, the TCMPB introduced the TCM practitioner and services accreditation framework in Singapore. In alignment with the framework and as part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we strengthened our volunteer appointment process by introducing one-year service terms and reinforcing expectations on professional and ethical conduct.

Following discussions led by our panel of full-time TCM practitioners and careful deliberation, appointments were not renewed where an individual’s conduct was assessed to be inconsistent with the professional and ethical standards guided by the TCMPB’s Code of Ethics. The individuals concerned had previously been informed of the issues identified and corresponding corrective actions.

At the same time, we recognise that there were shortcomings in our processes and communication, and are refining our practices while enhancing how changes, feedback and difficult decisions are communicated.

We sincerely apologise for the distress caused and have reached out to the parties involved, including Dr Lim, and remain committed to constructive dialogue and a respectful resolution.

While Tzu Chi deeply values every volunteer's contribution, our foremost responsibility is to the well-being of our beneficiaries and the trust placed in us by the community. We will continue to strengthen our governance and volunteer management practices. We will not comment further on this matter out of respect for the privacy of those involved.

Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore)
6 August 2026

PDF: Our Commitment to Professional Standards and Good Governance