PUTRAJAYA: The Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2013 which is expected to be fully enforced by the end of the year is in the best interests of patients and will also ensure quality service, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.

Describing the Act as a move to create a recognised and systematic service, Dr Subramaniam said it was critical as right now the Ministry had no authority over alternative medicine practitioners.

However, with this Act we can ensure that only qualified, recognised and accredited practitioners are allowed to offer such services, he said after chairing a meeting here yesterday.

Gazetted in February 2013, the Act would also make it mandatory for all traditional and complementary medicine practitioners to register themselves with the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Council, he added.

Subramaniam said the ministry had appointed eight bodies to represent and self-regulate their identified fields of practice based on a code of ethics and practice developed by the ministry and constitutions of the bodies concerned.

The six main fields of practice were Malay traditional medicine, Indian traditional medicine, Chinese traditional medicine, Islamic medicine, homeopathy and complementary therapy, he noted. Bernama

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Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act will ensure quality service Dr Subramaniam