Dr Tan Kok Kuan
Dr Tan Kok Kuan is a doctor based in Singapore with a primary focus in Men's Health. As the Founder of Dr Tan and Partners (DTAP Clinics), Dr Tan pioneered the General Practitioner with Special Interest (GPwSI) model in Singapore enabling the practice to provide higher standards of care to patients which was a defining feature for all Dr Tan and Partner Clinics till the time he left in 2020. Dr Tan left DTAP Clinics and has since founded a new practice - Dr Tan Medical Center to elevate the standards of Men's Health and STD/HIV care and refocus on providing a safe, conducive environment for patients to come and discuss their medical concerns.
Education[]
Dr Tan attended the Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and Raffles Junior College.
He graduated from the National University of Singapore Medical School in 2001 and served in Tan Tock Seng, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore National Eye Centre and Singapore Heart Center during his time in the public service.
He is an active member of the Society of Men's Health Singapore and a member of the Singapore Association for the study of obesity.
His post-graduate accreditations include:
- Certificate of Mens' Health
- Certificate of Clinical Dermatology
- World Obesity Federation - Certified Obesity Management Professional
Advocacy[]
Back in 2005, Dr Tan identified the impact of social stigma on medical access and social support for patients living with HIV (PLHIV) and the LBGTQ community. This was the impetus for him to create a safe space for PLHIV and members of the LBGTQ to receive medical help.
He was one of the first GP Clinics to operate an Anonymous HIV Testing (AHT) site in 2008 and is actively involved in advancing the WHO Global HIV Eradication Agenda as one of the authors for Singapore’s National HIV PrEP Guideline and Singapore’s Blueprint to end AIDS and HIV Transmission by 2030.
Beyond academia, Dr Tan is also involved in many Grassroots initiatives to stop social stigma against PLHIV and LBGTQ. Working closely with Yangfa from Oogachaga, he held several seminars for doctors in Singapore and Malaysia to better understand the needs for LBGTQ community with particular emphasis on the importance of clear and non-judgmental communication when dispensing medical advice.
Recognized as a medical advocate and ally to the LBGTQ community, the Asian Medical Students’ Association - Singapore invited Dr Tan to host a webinar for Singaporean medical students on clinical communication and interaction with LBGTQ patients.
Dr Tan frequently features in the media to try to raise awareness of the stigma against PLHIV and the LBGTQ community in Singapore.
Editorial Work[]
Dr Tan is a reviewer for the Harms Reduction Journal - a peer review scientific journal focusing on reducing adverse outcomes from substance abuse. Dr Tan also sits on the Expert Advisory Committee : Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates.
Notable Media Articles[]
Article:
The Kung Fu Cure; Keeping HIV Under Control. Asian Geographic - No. 95 Issue 2/ 2013
Synopsis:
A perspective article on the current situation of HIV in the region. Kok Kuans draws the parallel between the fight against HIV and a Kung Fu fight scene from the movies. Given the latest advances in HIV therapy - giving HIV the “killer blow” and eradicating the virus looks ever more likely. An interesting perspective is described in the article where Kok Kuan compares Diabetes and HIV - both incurable diseases, yet because of the social stigma associated with HIV, it is seen by many as a much “worse” disease, when in fact you can suffer just as much if not more if you had diabetes.
Article:
How did we get HIV?. The New Paper on Sunday - 7th November 2010
Synopsis:
“Clean Living” and virgins but 2 Malaysians gets shock when they test positive for HIV. Kok Kuan attended to the 2 patients who tested positive for HIV despite having no risk factors, the only common events between the 2 was that they each had dental procedures in Malaysia at separate clinics.
Article:
Vaping: 67 Offenders Nabbed. The Straits Times - 14th January 2019
Synopsis:
Kok Kuan provided insights into the utility of e-cigarettes in helping people to quit smoking. However emphasized caution as the vape juice used in e-cigarettes contain other chemicals that may be harmful and even more addictive than nicotine.
References[]
Dr Tan has been invited to comment on several platforms including advising on the National Primary Care Guidelines for HIV Care and PrEP.
Here are some of the news/ media articles that Dr Tan featured in:
- Community Blueprint - Ending HIV Transmission and AIDS in Singapore by 2030. Digital version accessed - afa.org.sg/ending HIV
- Guidance for the Prescription of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Singapore. Digital version accessed - https://www.ncid.sg/About-NCID/OurDepartments/Pages/NHIVP-Guidance-Documents.aspx
- After years of lobbying, antiretroviral drugs used for HIV treatment are now subsidised by MOH. Today Newspaper. 5th September 2020
- (Chinese Language Media) HIV Prevention - People Republic of China, Local Media Television Interview. https://health.qq.com/zt2013/mingyitang/007.htm## . 29th May 2013
- (Chinese Language Media) Man and woman contracted HIV after visiting dentists in Malaysia. Shin Min Daily News. 7th November 2010
- New Protection for HIV Negative People. Pre-exposure pill could be game-changer in HIV prevention. Today Newspaper. 29th November 2016
- The painless, potent ‘shock’ treatment for men who struggle to perform in bed. Channel News Asia. 25th August 2018
- (Chinese Language Media) 70% of middle aged men turn to the internet to buy testosterone medication. WB News. 22nd June 2010
- Beauty quest fuelling illegal sales online. The Straits Times. 1st October 2017
- How about seeing a doctor in Singapore. An Expat Guide. Deutsch in Singapur. The City International Series. Vol 1. pp 122 - 123
- My PMS was so bad, my hubby called me “mad woman”. The New Paper. 12th June 2010
- 7 Ways to make the most out of your doctor’s appointment. Her World. 24th April 2015
- SARS fight on the frontline was a torrid experience of fatigue, fear, sweat, stink and danger. A doctors first-hand account of the 2003 outbreak shades some light on the current fight against COVID-19. The New Paper. 6th April 2020
- Disruptive technologies in the Tobacco industry. Asia-Pacific Biotech News. Vol 24/2. 24th February 2020
- COMMENT: Doubts over e-cigarettes mount in wake of US vaping deaths. Yahoo News. 12th October 2019
- Tobacco past & present. Ageless Online.https://www.agelessonline.net/tobacco-past-present/ . 31st May 2019
- E-cigarettes and alternatives: Experts call for regulators to adopt a less rigid stance, look at scientific data. Yahoo News. 23rd September 2019
- Health Suites: To Smoke or Not to Smoke. Money FM 89.3. 24th September 2019
- Dr. Martha Tara Lee, "Passionate Person – Medical Doctor, Dr. Tan Kok Kuan", Eros Coaching Pte Ltd, 8 September 2018[1].
- 99SME Admin, "99%SME PRESENTS: THE CHANGING FACES OF SMES", 99SME, 18 October 2018[2].
Invited Guest Speaker:
- 1st Asian Association of Neuropsychopharmacology Conference Symposium on the Controversy in Nicotine Dependence: Harm Reduction vs Complete Abstinence Hong Kong. 21st September 2018.
- 3rd Asian Harm Reduction Forum on Policy Interventions for Differentiated Products Seoul. 29th August 2019
- PCN GP Annual Grand Conference 2020 Singapore. 5th December 2020
- NCID HIV PrEP Prescriber Course 2020 Singapore. 8th February 2020
Dr. Tan Kok Kuan- STI stigma discourages voluntary HIV testing
See also[]
Acknowledgements[]
This article was originally written by Roy Tan. Updated by Dr Tan Medical Center.