CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITIES OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS UNDER THE MALAYSIAN TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE ACT 2016

Freedom embodies the fundamental human aspiration to exercise autonomy and make decisions concerning one’s own life. Apart from this context, Malaysia’s evolving regulatory framework for Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) continues to shape the duties, liabilities, and professional standards of practitioners under the T&CM Act 2016. This study examines the evolving regulatory landscape governing T&CM practice in Malaysia, with particular focus on the legal duties and liabilities arising under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016. This paper adopts a qualitative methodology. While global scholarship on the legal implications of T&CM regulation is expanding, detailed analyses specific to the Malaysian context remain limited. Addressing this gap, the research provides a systematic exploration of practitioners’ statutory obligations, the mandatory registration regime implemented on 1 March 2021, and the qualification requirements introduced to enhance professional standards. It assesses the extent to which these measures enhance patient safety and service quality, while also addressing concerns raised by scholars regarding the adequacy of the existing legal framework in addressing contemporary regulatory challenges. The study also considers Malaysia’s broader efforts to institutionalise T&CM within its national healthcare system, as well as the parallel regulatory emphasis on ensuring the safety of herbal and related products. Thus, this research contributes nuanced insights into the legal architecture of T&CM in Malaysia and offers perspectives that may inform future policy refinement and comparative regulatory developments.