Author
No authors listed.
Publisher
Traditional and Complementary Medicine Division Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Edition
First edition
Date
6/1/2009
Keyword
Traditional Malay massage,
Abstract
World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Traditional Medicine as diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal, and/or mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercise applied singularly or in combination to maintain well-being, as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness. Although allopathic medicine is well established, traditional medicine still exists and is widely used in many of the countries throughout the world including Malaysia.
In 2002, WHO launched a strategy on traditional medicine to help countries explore its potential for people’s health and well-being and to minimize the risks to unproven or misused remedies. One of the strategies is to integrate traditional medicine into the formal healthcare system, thus ensuring better safety and adequate follow-up for patient.
The cabinet of Malaysia had approved on the 11th January 2006 the establishment of Traditional and Complementary medicine unit in three hospitals, Hospital Kepala Batas in Pulau Pinang, Hospital Putrajaya in Federal Territory of Putrajaya and Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor. The implementation of the pioneer project is towards integrating traditional and complementary medicine into the existing public healthcare delivery system.
To implement the services the unit is provided with Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) practice guidelines on the three modalities of treatment. The objectives of these guidelines are to promote the highest standards in the practice of these modalities of treatment and to ensure public safety.
