ANALYSING THE HEALTH POLICY MAKING PROCESS: NATIONAL POLICY OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE IN MALAYSIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Health policy refers to an authoritative statement of intent, adopted by a government on behalf of the public to improve the health and welfare of the population. It is a decision regarding a specific goal in health care and a plan for achieving that goal. In view of the current increasing demands and widespread use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM), and towards integrative approach to health care system in Malaysia, this manuscript aims to provide a general understanding on the policy making process regarding National Policy of TCM in Malaysia. The information used in this manuscript are based on the data collected from reports, articles, publications and journals published pertaining to the health policy making process and analysis, and also Traditional and Complementary Medicine policy development from the international, national and local sources available online as well as manual searches. TCM policy in Malaysia was passed in year 2001 and revised in 2007. The National Policy aims were for TCM to be optimally integrated into the Malaysia healthcare system to achieve a holistic approach towards enhancing health and quality of life of the population. A framework of health policy making process is used systematically to explore the complex interrelationships between its content, context, process and actors involved in the development of this policy. There are four scopes in TCM policy that has been recognized, they are: practice, raw material and product, education and training and research. There are five steps in health policy making process; problem identification, problem formulation, problem adoption, problem implementation and problem evaluation and these steps is a common approach used in analysing a policy making process. Generally, the national TCM policy in Malaysia has followed the principle and framework of policy making process that is essential to produce a comprehensive policy for the country.
Keywords: Analysis of Health Policy Making Process, Traditional and Complementary Medicine Policy, Malaysia