Dr Chua: Only safe treatments will be allowed

NST: BANTING: Only traditional treatments like acupuncture, reflexology and herbal medicines will be allowed in government hospitals under the plan to incorporate such treatments.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the current proposal had identified several areas the practitioners could work on, including pain management, oncology, rehabilitation and post-natal care.
"We will only allow treatments that are proven to be safe and effective. However, there are many issues to be ironed out such as the legal aspect of such treatments."
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Banting Hospital yesterday, Dr Chua said it was wrong to assume that spitting bomohs and incense-filled corridors would now be a common sight in hospitals.
"What we are trying to do is to integrate Western and traditional treatments, and it will not be like what was described in Parliament."
On Thursday, Member of Parliament for Sri Gading Datuk Mohamed Aziz asked whether all hospitals would be filled with smoke from incense, and have dukun and pawang spitting on patients, and practitioners going into trance and speaking in tongues.
Dr Chua said to regulate the practice, a Traditional Treatment and Complementary Medicine Act was being drafted.
"Accreditation is another issue and we want those who practise to be recognised by the National Accreditation Board and Public Service Department."
He said a committee will be set up comprising officials from the Health and Higher Education Ministries to evaluate practitioners who qualified from countries such as China, India and Indonesia.
He added that the plan was only expected to be implemented in three years.