Traditional and Complementary Medicine Blueprint 2018-2027 launched

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday launched the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) Blueprint 2018-2027 (Health Care) as a guide through a systematic and sustainable approach in developing the T&CM industry for the coming ten years.

The blueprint was launched by Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam at the Institute for Health Management, here. Also present were Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya and the director- general of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The minister said the enforcement of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775) had made Malaysia one of the very few countries to have enacted a unique piece of legislation that would regulate the diverse practices and practitioners of traditional and complementary medicine in the country.

“The Act has catalysed progress on many fronts of T&CM, notably in the areas of capacity building in research, governance, education and the regulation of T&CM products,” he said.

The T&CM Blueprint 2018-2027 which is part one of a three-chapter document, in particular, focuses on the health care perspectives of T&CM while the economic and socio-cultural aspects are currently being looked into by the ministry.

Dr Subramaniam said the Blueprint represented the ministry’s passion and continuous commitment to regulate and professionalise the practice and practitioners of T&CM in the country.

“It also presents the direction of which T&CM needs to strengthen its position in the national health care system on the basis of strong scientific evidence and to bring Malaysia closer to its National Health Care goals.”