Page 12 - NHMS2015-tradisional and complementary medicine volume IV

Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM)
VOLUME IV

Although supplementary product is not a category of T&CM practices, its use within the
last twelve months with consultation was the second highest (30.99%). The main users
(85.52%) were the urban population and 82.2% of them used the supplements to
maintain wellness.

Conclusions

 T&CM continues to be an important presence in this country as it has made
some impact to the health of Malaysian population.

 There is a need to continue providing T&CM practices to offer options for patients
and for healthy individuals especially in maintaining wellness and complementing
mainstream medical system.
 Services of T&CM are obtained at various facilities depending on the practices

offered.
 The cost of the services for the majority of the T&CM practices is within an
affordable rate.

 Supplementary products were abundantly consumed by the Malaysian
population.

Recommendations

 A formalised T&CM unit should be established in more government hospitals and
expanded to other health care facilities.

 The type of services within the T&CM unit should be increased.

 Monitoring of each T&CM practices should be conducted based on the identified
places of practice.

 The registration and monitoring of supplementary products should be
strengthened by the relevant authorities.

 More research is required for T&CM especially in Malay herbs in order to
produce the scientific evidence required to support the safe use of practice.

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NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY 2015 MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA