Saturday April 29, 2006
Alternative medicine to aid healing
BANTING: Introducing traditional or complementary medicine in hospitals is not about allowing hocus pocus or peculiar rituals. Alternative medicine will instead be used to promote wholesome healing.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said alternative medicine could be used to help promote better healing, such as the proven effectiveness of acupuncture, reflexology and post-natal massage.
The Government, he said, would however only introduce alternative healing into hospitals after careful studying.
“Of course, we will not simply allow bomoh or sinseh into hospitals,” Dr Chua said, in response to some negative remarks over the intention to introduce alternative healing in hospitals.
Sri Gading MP Datuk Aziz Mohamed had asked in parliament recently whether bomoh would be “spitting blessed water” on their patients or have the hospitals filled with incense smoke.
Dr Chua said very important issues needed to be addressed first before complementary medicine was introduced.
“For instance, who will be responsible for the healing administered by the alternative medicine practitioners? Which relevant department or agency is tasked with accrediting their professionalism?
“We also need to strictly ensure the herbal products to be used are absolutely safe,” said Dr Chua after visiting the Banting hospital here.
He was accompanied by hospital director Dr Anisah Mohd Tahir and Teluk Datuk state assemblyman Datuk Ei Kim Hock.
Dr Chua said it would take about three years before alternative healing was introduced as a pilot project in selected hospitals.
Five areas of health had been identified as suitable for the introduction of alternative healing.
They are: rehabilitation (such as the physical therapy given to patients suffering from stroke), oncology, pain management, mental health and wellness management.
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