A hub for medical info

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is well on its way to becoming the global information hub on integrated medicine.
This follows the launching yesterday of GlobinMed, a web-based resource which profiles various aspects of traditional and complementary medicine (T/CM).
It offers validated, up-to-date and comprehensive information on a range of areas associated with integrated medicine.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the government wanted to use smart and strategic partnerships with other nations, international organisations and non-governmental organisations in becoming a hub.
"Our mission is to establish an information hub on integrated medicine for the world throughout Malaysia," he told reporters after the launching ceremony at the Putra World Trade Centre.
He had, earlier, also opened the three-day Sixth International Conference on Traditional and Complimentary Medicine and the Third International Congress on Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica.
GlobinMed objectives are to:
• develop a state-of-the art information resource on T/CM and integrated medicine, and
• promote the generation and dissemination of T/CM information that is validated, up-to-date, widely available and evidence-based to global consumers.
Dr Chua said Malaysia welcomed strategic partners to fulfil the vision of ensuring accurate and reliable information on integrated medicine.
"GlobinMed is a wholesome global electronic information resource on T/CM, covering policy, practice, research, trade, education, safety, conservation and intellectual property rights," he said.
This meant that GlobinMed catered to all interests.
GlobinMed, Dr Chua said, was set up in line with the significant increase in the role of T/CM in contributing to human health.
He said the widespread use of T/CM among Malaysians was also a challenge for the ministry.
"The ministry has to ensure that the more than 17,000 products used by 7,154 registered T/CM practitioners are safe, effective and have quality.
"The ministry has also seized unregistered T/CM products worth millions over the past few years, containing metals, steroids and banned medicines.
"Malaysia is also seeing a paradigm shift in healthcare as with the rest of the world, as consumers are showing great interest in T/CM," he added.
It was in this respect that the cabinet had approved the setting up of integrated hospitals which used both modern and traditional medicine, he said.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would launch the first integrated hospital in Kepala Batas in September.
Three oncologists will be arriving from the Chinese Medicine Guang’anmen Hospital, Beijing, to work on attachment at the hospital.
Two more hospitals identified under the project are Putrajaya Hospital and Hospital Pandan in Johor.