Tan Kok Kuan
Dr Tan Kok Kuan is a doctor based in Singapore with a primary focus in Men's Health and an advocate for LGBTQ rights in Singapore.
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 Men’s Health
- Certificate of Clinical Dermatology
- World Obesity Federation - Certified Obesity Professional
Advocacy
Back in 2005, Dr Tan identified the impact social stigma had on medical access and social support for patients living with HIV (PLHIV) and the LBGTQ community in Singapore. Implementing a General Practice with Special Interest (GPwSI) model from the United Kingdom (which was rare in Singapore at that time), allowed Dr Tan to provide a range of medical services to the community and saving patients multiple trips to different doctors.
He was also one of the first General Practice 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.[1][2]
Beyond academia, Dr Tan is also involved in many Grassroots initiatives to stem social stigma against PLHIV and LGBTQ. Working closely with local Non-Government Groups like Oogachaga, he has held several seminars for doctors in Singapore and Malaysia to better understand the needs of the LGBTQ 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 LGBTQ community, the Asian Medical Students’ Association - Singapore invited Dr Tan to host a webinar for Singaporean medical students on clinical communication and interaction with LGBTQ patients.
Dr Tan frequently features in the media to try to raise awareness of the stigma against PLHIV and the LGBTQ 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
Dr Tan has been invited to comment on several platforms including advising on the National Primary Care Guidelines for HIV Care and PrEP.
Notable news/ media articles that Dr Tan featured in are listed below, with other features in the References section[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Article:
The Kung Fu Cure; Keeping HIV Under Control.[11]
Synopsis:
A perspective article on the current situation of HIV in the region. Kok Kuan 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?.[12]
Synopsis:
“Clean Living” and virgins but 2 Malaysians get a 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.[13]
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
- ↑ "Community Blueprint - Ending HIV Transmission and AIDS in Singapore by 2030". Action For AIDS. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2021-06-01. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Tan, Kok Kuan (2019-11-30). "Guidance for the Prescription of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Singapore" (PDF). https://www.ncid.sg/About-NCID/OurDepartments/Pages/NHIVP-Guidance-Documents.aspx. Retrieved 2021-06-01. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help); External link in|website=(help) - ↑ Lim, Janice (2020-09-05). "After years of lobbying, antiretroviral drugs used for HIV treatment are now subsidised by MOH". Today Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Neo, Chai Chin (2016-11-29). "New Protection for HIV Negative People. Pre-exposure pill could be game-changer in HIV prevention". Today Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Ong, Justin (2018-08-25). "The painless, potent 'shock' treatment for men who struggle to perform in bed". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ "Beauty quest fuelling illegal sales online". The Straits Times. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Tan, Kok Kuan (2020-04-06). "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. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Tan, Kok Kuan (2020-02-24). "Disruptive technologies in the Tobacco industry". Asia-Pacific Biotech News. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Tan, Kok Kuan (2019-05-31). "Tobacco Past and Present". Ageless Online. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Wong, Casandra (2019-09-23). "E-cigarettes and alternatives: Experts call for regulators to adopt a less rigid stance, look at scientific data". Yahoo news. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Tan, Kok Kuan (2013-02-01). "The Kung Fu Cure; Keeping HIV Under Control". Asian Geographic. Number 95/ Issue 2: 111–113.
- ↑ Ng, Wan Ching (2010-11-07). "How did we get HIV?". The New Paper On Sunday. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ↑ Tan, Theresa (2019-01-14). "Vaping: 67 Offenders Nabbed". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
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