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SINGAPORE \u2013 Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon told attendees at a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) event on May 23 that he will not be running away even as he steps down from public office<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n The colorectal surgeon, who had announced that he would resign from office on June 1 due to family reasons, was the guest of honour at the inaugural National Exemplary Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Awards 2026.<\/p>\n Dr Koh, who is also Senior Minister of State for Manpower, said he received a lot of text messages from friends and e-mails from the general public, all of whom sent their encouragement and support.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your encouragement, your support and your partnership, especially those who I have worked with all these years.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you very much from the bottom of my heart,\u201d said Dr Koh.<\/p>\n The Tampines GRC MP said that as an elected Member of Parliament, his constituents will always be a priority for him, and he will continue to do his very best for the residents.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the needs of family have increased in recent years, and unfortunately for family, I\u2019m the only one they have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot outsource my family to others, so it is a time that I have to take stock and reprioritise. But I was telling some of you that I\u2019m not running away, I\u2019m still going to be around, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Koh said he will continue to be present at \u201cdifferent events\u201d and as an MP.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cSo here, I want to just once again say a big thanks to everyone for sending me your text messages and your e-mail, and for your support.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Koh said that he was glad his \u201cfinal event\u201d for the Ministry of Health (MOH) was one that celebrates and recognises TCM, because the practice was one of the first areas he looked into during his first stint at the ministry.<\/p>\n He recounted spending \u201cquite a bit of time\u201d talking to many TCM practitioners, colleagues and MOH staff to raise the standards of TCM practice in Singapore<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n They also looked at correcting structural issues like wages, training and progression, he added.<\/p>\n