Sabah Health Department director, Dr Maria Suleiman.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Health Department is actively working to regulate and integrate traditional medicine practices into the healthcare system, with strong support from various agencies.
Department director Dr Maria Suleiman said a key meeting was held on Monday (Jan 6) focusing on regulating these practices under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act (Act 775), ensuring their inclusion in the nation's healthcare framework while preserving their cultural significance.
Jointly chaired by Health (Research and Technical Support) deputy director-general Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah and Local Government and Housing Ministry deputy secretary-general II Faridah Giau, the meeting gathered representatives from multiple government bodies and agencies, including the Health Ministry, Sabah Health Department, the state’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, Sabah Biodiversity Centre, and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
“The meeting’s primary objective was to foster collaboration among these agencies to effectively regulate traditional medicine practices in Sabah.
“This effort aligns with the global 'One Health' vision promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), advocating for the integration of traditional medicine into national healthcare systems in a sustainable and balanced way,” Dr Maria said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 11).
She noted that key outcomes included the proposal to establish a Technical Committee tasked with creating strategies to gather data on traditional medicine practitioners, assess their practices, and set criteria for official registration.
Workshops and community engagement activities will also be organised to raise awareness of the importance of recognising and preserving Sabah’s traditional medicine practices.
“Stronger cooperation between federal and state ministries is seen as crucial for the success of this initiative.
“The meeting highlighted the need for collaboration among various agencies, such as the Local Government and Housing Ministry, the Community Development and People’s Welfare Ministry, the Sabah State Secretariat, and others, to ensure the effective implementation of these plans,” she added.
Dr Maria also said that further discussions are scheduled to refine these proposals, with the next steps focusing on finalising the initiatives.
“These efforts are poised to play a vital role in improving the health and well-being of Sabah’s communities while preserving the rich heritage of Indigenous medicine for future generations,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to all the agencies involved, acknowledging their unwavering commitment.
"We are dedicated to ensuring the success of these initiatives, which will ultimately benefit the health and well-being of the people of Sabah," said Dr Maria.
