PUTRAJAYA: Efforts to further integrate traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) services in the healthcare system received another push, with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation for traditional medicines between Malaysia and China.
It includes cooperation for information sharing, training, as well as research and development (R&D).
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it marks a significant milestone for both the governments in the field of traditional medicine, especially traditional Chinese medicine and was proof of the strong relations between the two countries.
"The MoU is a commitment aimed to encourage, facilitate and promote cooperation between the two countries in the aspects of practises, raw materials and products; education and training, as well as research.
"The Health Ministry hopes the effective communication network would be further enhanced for the purpose of information exchange on technical, scientific and regulatory matters that would facilitate the process of making policies and strategies in ensuring safe services and traditional medicine products for the wellbeing of the people," he said at the signing ceremony held today at the ministry with virtual attendance of representatives from China.
Khairy said the MoU was in line with the aspirations of the government and World Health Organisation (WHO) that recognised the contribution of traditional medicine in complementing the conventional medical system, allowing the country to move towards better healthcare.
He said Malaysia and China had previously signed a similar MoU on November 2011, with Malaysia represented by the then health minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the latter represented by NATCM former commissioner Dr Wan Guoqiang.
The MoU, known as the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine which was in force until last year, he said.
He said various cooperative efforts in traditional medicine were carried under the MoU in the past 10 years, including information-sharing sessions through workshops, conferences and meetings; training for the ministry's staff and deputation of China's traditional medicines experts to provide services at the Health Ministry's hospitals.
"On behalf of the Malaysian government, I would like to express our gratitude to the People's Republic of China for the support shown throughout the duration of the previous MoU.
"This is in line with the Health Ministry's efforts to develop and enhance traditional medicine fields through evidence-based research," he said, expressing hopes that such collaborations would continue in the future.
In addition, he said, the Belt and Road Initiative had also improved the regional relations and collaborations between Malaysia and China, especially on matters related to health issues, making it a platform to enhance capacity in managing emergency health issues.
This was done through information sharing and exchanges on pandemic, prevention or intervention method, as well as proving more effective training for the healthcare staff, he said.
"Traditional medicine in Malaysia is rather unique, whereby it has its own history formed from various legacies, culture, languages and races in the country. It has played an important role in the healthcare of Malaysians.
"Apart from that, research in traditional and complementary medicine in Malaysia is still in its early stage. Hence, the vast knowledge and expertise of China in traditional medicine will definitely benefit Malaysians, especially in research activities, including prevention and treatments of communicable and non-communicable diseases."
The findings of the researches would assist the government in setting suitable policies to reduce the burden of diseases in Malaysia, he added.