China's Traditional Medicine Experts For Integrated Hospital

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Traditional medical specialists from three renowned universities in China will help out in the implementation of the Integrated Hospital Concept, a special hospital offering a combination of western and traditional medicine treatments, here next year.
The three universities are the University of Beijing, University of Shanghai and University of Nanjing, which are actively involved in herbal research and giving out support for well-established and closely monitored integrated hospital around China.
Health Minister, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek said during last month's meeting with the republic's Health Ministry, the Chinese had agreed to Malaysia's proposal to send Malaysia's western-educated doctors to attend short-term courses on traditional and complementary medicine at these universities.
"In exchange, the Chinese will send their experts in traditional medicine from the three universities to help out the Malaysian government in implementing the integrated hospital concept here," he told reporters after presenting a government grant amounting to RM2 million to the non-profit making Tung Shin Hospital, here, Monday.
Besides that, he said the universities' experts would also be roped in to introduce traditional medicine modules at the medical faculties of local universities.
"Traditional medicine will be introduced as a subject for medical undergraduates. Upon completion, these would-be-doctors will have sound knowledge about traditional medicine," he said.
Chua also said that the Integrated Hospital Concept would be implemented after the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill was gazetted next year.
"The government has identified three government hospitals, namely, Kepala Batas Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital and Sultan Ismail Hospital (Johor Baharu) as the pilot project for the Integrated Hospital Concept," he said.
"In these hospitals, traditional medicine complementary treatments will include pain management (acupuncture, massage and reflexology), complementary treatment to build up cancer patients' immune system, health and wellness program involving enhancing mental health, and dieting," he added.