KEPALA BATAS: Hospital Kepala Batas (HKB), the first government hospital in Penang to offer alternative and complementary medicine, aims to provide maternity massage for postnatal mothers from early next year.

HKB director Dr Aslina Bahakodin said complementary medicine, which was offered at the hospital since October 2007, has received overwhelming response from the public.

She said of the total six government hospitals in Penang, HKB is the only one that practises and offers complementary medicine which consists of traditional Malay massage, acupuncture and herbal oncology.

"Some 6,000 patients have received alternative medication and treatment for stroke, chronic diseases and cancer last year.

"Initially, we accepted anyone who sought complementary medicine and treatment at our hospital but due to the overwhelming response, we are now accepting patients who are referred by doctors only," she said at the Fiqh and Complementary Medication Convention at Malaysia Productivity Corporation here recently.

The convention was officiated by State Health Department director Datuk Dr Lailanor Ibrahim who represented Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.

Dr Aslina said the government was now identifying more practitioners in complementary medicine who are recognised and approved by the Health Ministry.

The two-day convention, jointly organised by HKB, Penang Hospital and International Muslim Aid Malaysia Association, was attended by about 200 physicians from all over the country.

Meanwhile, Dr Lailanor said the state health department would look into offering complementary medicine in all hospitals provided more qualified medical practitioners are available.

"We can develop complementary medicine in government hospitals if we have more practitioners.

"These practitioners must be registered and recognised by the government so that they can provide the best care for patients," he said. By Priya Pubalan

Source: New Straits Times