TCM units get good response

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The pilot project of the traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) unit at three government hospitals has received encouraging response, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
He said Hospital Putrajaya, Hospital Kepala Batas in Kedah and Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor had started with acupuncture, Malay traditional massage and adjunct Chinese herbal treatment for cancer a few months ago.
“The TCM appointments in Hospital Putrajaya have been made until July this year while Hospital Kepala Batas has more than 2,000 cases,” he told a press conference after opening the Ecoparadise Anti-Oxidant Rejuvenation Therapy Centre at the Fraser Business Park Centre yesterday.
He said each hospital had a contract acupuncturist and two contract traditional Malay masseurs, while Hospital Kepala Batas and Hospital Sultan Ismail had a contract TCM oncologist from Hospital Guang Ah Men and Nanjing University in China respectively.
“We are evaluating the implementation of the Integrative Medicine Programme at the three hospitals.
“We are planning to expand it to other government hospitals in the future,” he said.
He said a Traditional and Complementary Healthcare Practices Bill had been drafted and was now being studied by the legal adviser.
“This Bill is primarily aimed at regulating the practitioners of TCM,” he said.