Rules for TCM practitioners after Bill tabled

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: A minimum set of requirements will be outlined for traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practitioners before they are allowed to practise after the TCM Bill is passed, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
He said a TCM Council, which would be formed under the Act, would decide on the qualifications required of a practitioner.
“The bodies which the practitioners are attached to will also help us to assess their skills and qualifications.
“We will also take their experience into consideration,” he told reporters after visiting the Health Ministry's Traditional and Complementary Medicine Division here yesterday.
He said those who did not meet the minimum requirement would be given time to further their studies and get the required recognition.
The ministry, he said, was aiming to table the Bill in Parliament in March.
He said the proposed Act would put a stop to common problems faced by the industry, such as the use of unregistered drugs by practitioners, and practitioners with unrecognised qualifications.
The ministry, was also planning to expand TCM services at the primary health care level, which were the government clinics.
“This is in line with the World Health Organisation's call to all its member to promote TCM.
“For the initial stage, we plan to offer traditional Malay treatment for mothers who have just given birth, traditional massages and acupuncture for those suffering chronic pain.
“This will also improve the accessibility and affordability of such services,” he added.
Currently, TCM services are only available at 10 government hospitals Hospital Kepala Batas (Penang), Hospital Sultan Ismail (Johor), Hospital Putrajaya, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (Terengganu) and Hospital Duchess of Kent (Sabah).
The other five hospitals are Hospital Umum Sarawak, Hospital Port Dickson (Negri Sembilan), Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah (Kedah), Hospital Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom (Pahang) and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (Kelantan).

On another matter, Liow urged all elected representatives to undergo health examinations on a yearly basis to ensure that they were healthy to serve the people during their term.
“All political parties from both divides should also make it compulsory for all their candidates to be screened before they are nominated for the MP and state assemblyman seats,” he said.
Liow, who is MCA deputy president, said all candidates from the party were required to submit a report on their health condition before they were nominated.
However, he said, the ministry would not make it mandatory for MPs and state assemblymen to undergo health screening.
On Tuesday, Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said it would not impose a ruling to ensure that candidates for the general election were physically fit to avoid having by-elections in the event of the death of MPs or assemblymen.