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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear PHA friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<H1 align=center><FONT size=3>NOTICE</FONT></H1>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align=left><B>EQUAL
RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SYSTEMS
NEEDED</B></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE>
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prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">It was recently reported by a
senior Singapore Government official that almost one in eight Singaporeans now
prefers traditional medical treatment over established Western medicines. There
were calls for increased research into these ancient cures. This is indeed
laudable. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The WHO constitution has defined
health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. Traditional systems of therapy are
closer to this approach to health. Their focus is on the maintenance of health
and well-being through holistic means rather than symptomatic treatment.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Besides, Singapore, many other
countries are already promoting and integrating traditional systems of medicine
into their national healthcare and delivery systems. For instance, in China,
traditional medicine systems are officially recognized and integrated into the
healthcare system. Hospitals and colleges have been designated for the training
in traditional systems.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">India, last year, doubled its
budget for the promotion of traditional medicine practices such as ayurveda,
sidha, unani, naturopathy, Tibetan medicine and homeopathy. The Minister of
Health has also requested all ministries to recognize traditional systems in the
reimbursement schemes of medical expenses for employees in the government
sector.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Malaysia, being a multiracial
country, has a rich base of traditional systems of healthcare which include
Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous medicine. These non-Western or traditional
systems of medicine were practised before the advent of the colonial era. With
the advent of colonialism, they were gradually sidelined in favour of the
allopathic concept of medicine. However, efforts are now being made to revive
these age-old systems.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Many of our healthcare
systems today are grounded on the allopathic or modern concept of medicine. The
emphasis on private curative health measures, sophisticated technology and
expensive drugs has given rise to increasingly exorbitant medical costs and the
incidence of medical errors. Shortages of manpower in the various health sectors
compound the problem. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">We need to let go of the
present obsession with the modern system of medicine and turn to other systems
that do not depend on this sophisticated technology and other expensive modes of
treatment delivery. Authorities are called upon to do more to raise the level of
traditional systems of medicine to an equal footing with modern medicine. Among
the measures that must be given emphasis are:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>an equal recognition of traditional systems of health in the
existing healthcare system</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>active promotion of traditional systems of medicine by the
Ministries of Health in their national health programmes</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>the creation of a laws, under a separate Act, to regulate all
aspects of traditional medical systems, including the registration of
traditional practitioners</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>the provision of grants, incentives and other support mechanisms
for training, research and setting up of facilities</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>the setting up of traditional medicine colleges within the
existing university framework</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>the convening of national and international conferences on
traditional medical systems to promote<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>their importance and encourage further understanding of these health
systems</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Greater efforts are called for if
we are to raise the status of traditional systems of medicine. Otherwise, these
systems will continue to remain a “second class” healthcare option in the eyes
of the medical personnel as well as the public at large.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Kireen</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">on behalf of:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">S.M. Mohamed Idris,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">President,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Consumers Association of
Penang,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">228, Jalan Macalister,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">10400 Penang,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Malaysia.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> <o:p></o:p></P>
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