Page 25 - Proceedings of The Fifth Meeting of Indigenous Medicine in the Mekong Basin

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national health system was destroyed by Pol Pot regime and TM is the only way that
could reach to cure the people.
 Traditional Healers from all over Cambodia were invited to Phnom Penh in the
early1980s to share their knowledge, and each district health center had a kru
Khmer (Traditional healer) with whom it would work closely.
 In 1980’s with collaboration from Vietnam, Ministry of Health, We produced
Traditional Medicine products and distribute to hospitals and health centers in the
country.
 After finishing the collaboration with Vietnam, Ministry of Health and because of
government focusing on Western medicine, Center of Traditional Medicine doesn’t
have many activities.
 In 1997, sub-degree 67 ANKr-BK was reestablished The National Center of
Traditional Medicine (NCTM).
 On July 2004, Cambodia’s Prime Minister declared that, “The Royal Government
will continue to encourage the use of traditional medicines with appropriate
information and control in conjunction with the use of modern medicine”.

Regulation on TM products and Practices
Cambodia has not had Traditional Medicine Law yet but currently has only
regulation for implementation in Traditional Medicine sector. Ministry of Health has
one sub-decrees: No: 23 ANKr.BK and one declaration No: 570 ABS/AABS that
related with TM practices and products:
Regulation for TM products:
In Apr 1998 Sub-decree No: 23 ANKr.BK on Production, Importation,
Exportation and Trade of Traditional Medicines for Health Sector.
Article 5: Traditional medicine practitioners eligible for undertaking traditional
medicine business shall fulfill the following qualifications:
 Hold Khmer nationality;
 Possess sound knowledge on the making of traditional medicine products
from plant, animal or mineral material and on the traditional medicine
treatment of simple illness and hold a traditional medicine practitioner
certificate recognized by the Ministry of Health;
 Have never been involved in any criminal case;
 Be healthy and be able to perform the work.

Chapter 5 Trade of Traditional Medicine Products
Article 14:
 Display for sale, sale and storage of traditional medicine products shall be
done in traditional medicine product selling depot, which is properly
organized as per requirements of the Ministry of Health.
Article 15:
 Traditional medicine practitioner shall be present in traditional medicine
product selling depot to supervise the activities in his/her establishment.
 If he/she is not available, the responsible traditional medicine practitioner
shall assign an alternative traditional medicine practitioner, which is also
licensed by the Ministry of Health.
Article 16:
 The following activities are prohibited:
 Sale of fake, no quality traditional medicine products;
 Sale of traditional medicine products mixed with modern medicine products;