One Month Without Treatment Patients Urge Govt To Let Tcm Clinics Open

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Traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) premises are not allowed to operate during the total lockdown since June 1, with practitioners crying foul over the measure.
However, patients are now also joining the call to reopen TCM clinics, saying that their rights to seek medical treatment and their health have been compromised.
One of the patients, Azman, told the media that he needs to receive acupuncture regularly to lift his arm.
The 58-year-old man said he has been treated with acupuncture for three years, sometimes once a week when his condition was bad.
“My work is gas delivery, but now I cannot carry the gas. I hope this clinic will be allowed to operate. Now I haven’t had acupuncture for 2 months,” said Azman.
Munipah, 51, who has issues with her leg, needs acupuncture twice a week to walk properly.
“I feel my leg is getting stiff and it is difficult to walk after one month without acupuncture.
“Medicine is not very effective for me. It would be good for the day after I took a pill, but after that the symptoms came back.
“But after acupuncture, I can feel my blood circulation is better and I could exercise a bit,” said Munipah.
While the TCM clinic was closed, Ramayah, who suffers from diabetes complications such as muscle weakness and numbness, is currently taking medicine from a general clinic.
However, he said the numbness of his leg could not be cured by any medicine, and could only be relieved by acupuncture.
All of these patients are regulars of the OKR Free Acupuncture Centre on Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur.
The centre, which has been in operation for 16 years, provides free treatment and is wholly sponsored by Berjaya founder Vincent Tan.
Its head of clinic, Dr Yeoh Beng, and more than ten patients held a press conference this morning with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok to explain the impact on patients when TCM clinics were shut down during the total lockdown.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (centre) during a press conference with TCM practitioners
According to Yeoh, the patients showed up voluntarily today to voice out and urge the government to allow the TCM clinic to reopen.
“It has been a tough time for them, they keep asking when we could reopen. We hope the authorities will allow us to operate as soon as possible, within one or two weeks.
“We couldn’t wait until next year, our patients are suffering,” she said.
She said that private TCM clinics should be allowed to open when their peers in public hospitals are operating as usual.
She reminded that some mild stroke patients are likely to have another stroke if they are unable to get acupuncture to activate their blood circulation for a long time.
Yeoh said some of her regular patients are already beginning to show such symptoms.
“Some Covid-19 patients badly need Chinese medicine and acupuncture to cure the side effects after they recover as well.
“The treatments are also suitable for those suffering from stress and depression during this pandemic,” she added.
The secretary-general of Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturists Association of Malaysia (FCPAAM) Dr Ng Po Min and one of the representatives from the organisation, Dr Lee Chu Ling, were also present at the press conference.
Lee stressed that once the traditional medicine sector were allowed to operate, they would strictly follow the standard operating procedures stated.
“For the past one month, I’ve been receiving at least ten calls a day from patients asking when we’re opening.”
Meanwhile, lawmaker Kok also questioned why the private clinics are treated differently, given that the government allows TCM departments in hospitals to operate.
Apart from Covid-19 patients, Kok said the government should not forget those who are suffering from other diseases and need TCM treatment.
“Tomorrow the cabinet will have a weekly meeting, and we, the patients and doctors hope (Transport Minister) Wee Ka Siong could raise this issue in the meeting.
“I hope the PN government will allow the TCM sector to operate since it’s a matter of the people’s health.
On June 1, the Health Ministry’s TCM Division announced that traditional medicine is not under the list of essential services allowed by the National Security Council, therefore they are unable to operate from June 1 to 14. The lockdown has since been extended to June 28.
It was reported that the MCA president and Transport Minister Wee had a discussion with representatives from the TCM sector last week and an SOP proposal will be submitted to the Health Ministry and National Security Council soon.
TCM practitioners were allowed to operate in previous movement control orders after the associations involved made an appeal.
Several TCM groups have urged for the resumption of their operations, namely the Malaysian Chinese Medical Association (MCMA) and the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Associations of Malaysia (FCPMDAM).
A group of practitioners have also escalated their protests by launching an online petition last Sunday. However, the current policy of barring TCM to operate remains unchanged. - Mkini

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