Register, traditional medicine wholesalers told

NST: SERI KEMBANGAN: Traditional medicine suppliers and wholesalers are called to register their products with the Health Ministry.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the exercise was for the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) to verify that the products were suitable for public consumption.
“Only products that have been registered and checked by the ministry will be allowed to make claims that it can treat specific diseases or illnesses,” he said.
He said making such claims in the present set of regulations was against the law.
“At present, a supplier of traditional medicinal product, such as a herb, cannot claim that it can treat diabetes or specifically claim that it supplements the health of one’s kidneys,” Liow told a press conference after the 5th Global Bio-Herbs Economic Forum here today.
However, that will change once the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill was passed as an Act next year.
“The registration process, which includes laboratory tests will certify if a product can do what it claims to do,” he said.
“Some products will be certified more easily than others because of it’s rich ethnopharmacological background; the average time to test each product will roughly take 60 working days,” Liow added.
Traditional medicine suppliers and wholesalers can register their products online via www.bpfk.gov.my
Meanwhile, the 5th Bio-Herbs Economic Forum 2011 saw the convergence of academics, scientists, pharmacists and businessmen from several countries here.
The forum served as a platform for traditional medicine industry players to discuss the health benefits of traditional medicines and also its economic value to the country.
Liow said that Malaysia was set to be a global manufacturer and exporter of alternative medicines due to the country’s rich bio-diversity.
“The Malaysian government acknowledges the importance of traditional medicines in terms of it’s health benefits and also it’s economic value,” he said in his opening speech.
“The Health Ministry had enabled several reforms in the health sector to recognise traditional medicines as a viable and healthy way to approach health issues,” he said.
He said the usage of traditional medicines to complement contemporary medicines was a more holistic approach to maintaining good health.