Acupuncture for adults with low back pain and neck pain

Published on 28 Dec 2020
Last Updated on 07 Jul 2023

Guidance Recommendations

The Ministry of Health’s Medical Technology Advisory Committee has recommended subsidy for adults with low back pain and neck pain in line with the following criteria:

• Needled acupuncture (with or without electrostimulation) performed in public healthcare institutions (PHIs) for pain reduction or functional improvement in adults aged 18 years and above, following formal diagnosis and recommendation by a referring medical specialist in a PHI, for:

  • Low back pain, including pain radiating to the leg(s);

  • Neck pain, including pain radiating to the shoulder(s).

• It can be administered for up to 12 sessions within 3 months from treatment initiation unless treatment needs to be delayed for valid medical reasons.

• Subsequent treatment of up to 12 more sessions within the next 3 months, unless treatment needs to be delayed due to valid medical reasons, is subject to the reviewing medical specialist’s assessment of sustained pain reduction or functional improvement for the patient.

• It shall be performed by acupuncturists registered with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB) in accordance with minimum practice standards defined by the TCM Branch of MOH.

Funding status

Needled acupuncture (with or without electrostimulation) is recommended for subsidy for adults with low back pain and neck pain, in line with the abovementioned recommendations. Subsidy is applicable only for treatments performed in PHIs.

Acupuncture for adults with low back pain and neck pain (07 Jul 2023) [PDF, 146 KB]

Acupuncture for adults with low back pain and neck pain (Annex) (07 Jul 2023) [PDF, 269 KB]