11 TCM clinics found giving unlicensed massages, including 1 with female staff offering 'vice services'

A total of 11 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics were found by the police with non-certified TCM practitioners administering massages to customers.

This followed public feedback of illegal massage establishments masquerading as TCM clinics and operating as unlicensed massage establishments and/or offering vice services.

The police conducted enforcement operations against 181 TCM outlets between Feb. 7 and Apr. 14, 2025, the police said in a media statement on Jun. 28.

Investigations ongoing

Police investigations are ongoing against the operators of the 11 outlets for breaching the Exemption Order 2018 under the Massage Establishments Act.

One of the outlets was also found with a female employee committing vice offences.

The female employee was arrested for an offence of managing a place of assignation under the Women’s Charter 1961.

Persons who are convicted of an offence of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence are liable to a fine of up to S$10,000, an imprisonment term of up to two years, or both.

Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to S$20,000, or an imprisonment term of up to five years, or both.

Under the Massage Establishments (Exemption) Order 2018, premises used for massage by a TCM practitioner registered under Section 14 and holding a valid practising certificate under Section 17 of the TCM Practitioners Act 2000 are exempt from the Massage Establishments Act 2017.

As such, if a non-TCM certified person is administering the massage, a massage establishment licence must be obtained from the police.

Enforcement

To complement the enforcement efforts, the police said they have engaged the TCM Practitioners Board to remind registered TCM practitioners of the need to comply with the Massage Establishments (Exemption) Order 2018.

The police added that they will continue to conduct regular enforcement checks to detect and deter illicit activities at TCM outlets.

"Those found engaging in such activities will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law," the press release read.

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