Kepala Datas, Malaysia - The Kepala Batas Hospital recently became the first public hospital in Malaysia to introduce traditional medicine alongside modern medical treatment.
Its Traditional and Complimentary Medicine (TCM) Unit, manned by 10 officers headed by Dr Suhaila Ismail, began offering services on Oct 18.
The pilot project under the Health Ministry, mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, aims at integrating conventional and traditional medical practices.
Abdullah, who is member of Parliament for Kepala Batas, is expected to open the hospital at Bertam on Friday, which began its operations in 2003, as well as launch the TCM, which was designed like a Bali spa in a herbal garden setting.
Kepala Batas Hospital Director Dr Mohamad Sabri Othman said the hospital, the sixth in Kedah, served Seberang Perai Utara residents as well as those from Kedah, Perlis and northern Perak.
He said traditional treatment would only be given to patients referred by specialists after they had undergone modern medical treatment.
"It is not an alternative medicine but more of complementing modern medicine," he said.
"The use of traditional herbs are to provide a soothing effect and enhances the rehabilitation process after modern medical treatment," he added.
He said that initially, traditional treatment at the hospital entailed three basic services -- acupuncture, Malay traditional massage and herbal oncology for cancer patients.
They were performed by local traditional practitioners and specialists from China, he said.
"Acupuncture is meant for patients suffering from migraine, nerve disorders and stroke.
"Herbal oncology for breast cancer, lung infection and colon and rectal cancer would be done by a Chinese specialist who had treated the late Datin Seri Endon Mahmod for breast cancer," he said.
Dr Mohamad Sabri said the TCM Unit would introduce post-natal massage and Indian Ayurveda herbal treatment later.
He said the hospital was also collaborating with Universiti Sains Malaysia`s Advanced Medical and Dental Institute in the fields of paediatric, oncology, radiology and pathology.
Source: www.bernama.com.my (25 Oktober 2007)
