Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act will assure authenticity of treatments

The Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2013 to be enforced in 2015, will give assurance to the public on the authenticity and quality of the treatments offered by such practitioners.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said hopefully, through the accreditation given, public acceptance of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) would be based on scientific evidence and capability of the practitioners.

"Sometimes, members of the public do not know whether the TCM practitioners they refer to are genuine or quacks, hence this Act will give them the assurance needed.

"Anyone can say that their TCM practice is good but after this Act is implemented, the claims must be supported by evidence while the practitioners must have the right qualifications to treat patients with TCM."

Dr Subramaniam said this to reporters after opening the World Chinese Natural Medicine Forum 2014, here, today.

However, he said, the ministry was still drawing up certain regulations with regard to TCM.

He said there were now more than 12,000 TCM practitioners in this country and he hoped that all of them would register within the stipulated period.

"Those who fail to register or abide by the regulations set will, among others, face a fine of up to RM30,000," he warned.