Monday, December 03, 2012

Senate Passes Traditional And Complementary Medicine Bill

Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The Dewan Negara Monday passed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill 2012 which requires all traditional medicine practitioners to register with the Council of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, in winding up debate on the bill, said the title of 'doctor' would only be given to qualified traditional and complementary medicine practitioners with a five-year basic degree who also fulfill the qualifications set by the council.

"The bill does not allow individuals who only attend a short course (in the discipline) to use the title of doctor, for example Dr (H) for a practitioner of homeopathy," she said.

Rosnah said 13,811 practitioners of traditional and complementary medicine had registered with the ministry in the country so far.

On Islamic medicine or Rukyah, she said the Health Ministry had published a book "Garis Panduan dalam Perubatan Islam" (Guide to Islamic Medicine) which must be adhered to by the practitioners.

The house will sit again Tuesday.