Traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) is fast gaining popularity alongside modern medicine in Malaysia.Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said promotion and research were crucial before any form of TCM was to be acknowledged.A study by the Institute for Medical Research in 2004 showed that about 70% of Malaysians had used TCM to enhance health or to treat an illness.“The ministry, through its TCM division, had taken several steps over the years to ensure that all the TCM being practised were safe and of quality,” he said after opening the Chinese medicine and chiropractic seminar and International Medical University healthcare centres at Bukit Jalil here yesterday.He added that research included continuous supervision, assessment and regulation, and issuance of appropriate guidelines and policies.In line with the Government’s aspiration to integrate TCM into the national healthcare system, TCM units had been established at six public hospitals – in Kepala Batas, Putrajaya, Pandan, Kuala Terengganu, Sandakan and Kuching – under the integrated hospital concept, he said.“We will complete the setting up of two more TCM units at Port Dickson Hospital and Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital before the end of the year,” he said, adding that the concept would be extended to more hospitals next year.In a related development, Liow said the TCM Act was expected to be tabled in Parliament early next year.He said the Act was supposed to have been tabled by end of this year but was delayed to incorporate additional views provided by associations of traditional medicine practitioners.Once the Act had been put in place, Liow said it would allow the Government to facilitate and help to develop TCM.He also said Malaysia and China had agreed to set up a task force to share expertise in traditional Chinese medicine.The task force, formed under the ministry, would meet its counterpart in China in setting up a centre of excellence to develop traditional Chinese medicine.Liow said both countries were currently working out details on the centre, to be located in Salak Tinggi, which would provide clinical services, training and research.
Source:The Star Online
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