A group of 17 Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (Honours) students successfully completed their clinical training at the T&CM Centre of UTAR Hospital, Kampar. The five-day training ended on 15 September 2022. On the last day of the training, the students were also visited by M Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS) Deputy Dean Prof Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat, Adjunct Professor from University of Sydney Prof Dr John Edward Joshua Rasko, and MK FMHS academic Prof Dr N. Veera Sekaran V. Nadarajan.

The training was part of the students’ programme requirement and it was also the first clinical training conducted at T&CM Centre. Director of T&CM Centre and Principal Chinese Medicine Practitioner Assoc Prof Dr Te Kian Keong explained, “The clinical training has always been part of the programme’s requirement to equip the students with necessary practical skills and knowledge. Previously, the clinical training was conducted in Tung Shin Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, and in other MoU partners’ hospitals or clinics. Now that the T&CM Centre has started operating, we are able to utilise the centre as a training platform; it allows us to conduct necessary training more conveniently.”

Tan Min Shen from Selangor commented, “It was an enjoyable training although there were some hectic days. I saw a lot of patients and some even came from afar. The training provided us the platform to learn more practically, especially now with the UTAR Hospital set up, such training will be very useful for our learning.”

Inspired by his father, Tan explained, “My father previously worked as a quantity surveyor and due to his hectic work, he was diagnosed with diabetes. He stopped working as a quantity surveyor and later pursued his interest in Chinese Medicine. After witnessing how Chinese Medicine helped him control his sugar level, improve his health, and reduce his reliance on other medicines, I realised that it could treat various other diseases. Therefore, I think Chinese Medicine is not only beneficial to patients but also useful for our personal health as it uses a subtler approach. I hope to see more young people pursue Chinese Medicine so that more people can benefit from it.”

Teh Shim Hui from Perak commented, “It was good to learn more than the information provided in textbooks and also learn in a more relatable environment. I was able to experience the whole process, from the point where patients come to meet the doctors, and I was able to learn the skills of interacting with patients. Although I was initially inspired by my father, I have also always believed that Chinese Medicine is a more natural approach. It is amazing to learn how simple acupuncture treatment can relieve the pain experienced by a patient.” Teh comes from a family who has experience in Chinese Medicine; her father has over 20 years of experience in Tui Na.

Ong Zi Han from Malacca said, “This was our first clinical training in T&CM Centre and we were excited. Coming here was definitely an eye-opener because there were some differences between lessons taught indoors and lessons learnt in a clinical and practical environment. The training was good because it helped us strengthen our foundation in Chinese Medicine and gave us the opportunity to apply the theories learnt in real-life situations. It also gave us the confidence to carry out the diagnosis with guidance from the doctors, and it enabled us to acquire the necessary skills needed. I am glad to have come for this training because I have always been curious about Chinese Medicine. I wanted to understand this field and with the knowledge I acquired, I know I can help many people and myself. Chinese Medicine is, in fact, useful in our everyday life. The food we eat and the medicine we take, come from the same resource. With the knowledge of Chinese Medicine, I learnt more about the way food affects our bodies and the way our bodies function. This will help me make wiser choices and decisions for the sake of good health.”

Christie Lam Yong Shing from Sabah said, “I was nervous at first but the doctors were very helpful and they patiently guided us, and soon we were able to adapt. The training was good because it provided us with more real-life scenarios which made learning more effective compared to simply learning from textbooks. To be able to see the actual process was also helpful because it gave us a better understanding of certain illnesses.”

She also added, “I pursued Chinese Medicine because I often fell sick when I was younger, and I would seek treatments with Chinese Medicine; my family would also consult a Chinese Medicine doctor. This exposure led to my interest in Chinese Medicine. I also believe that Chinese Medicine offers different perspectives on ways a patient can be diagnosed and treated. Although at times Western and Chinese Medicines may overlap, it would be beneficial to use Chinese Medicine to bring about more alternatives for treating certain illnesses.”

In addition to the comments of her friends, Ashley Png Yik Ting from Sarawak said, “Visiting the Chinese herbal dispensary allowed us to identify the herbs more accurately compared to just referring to the pictures and names in the textbook. This is crucial because we need to prescribe the herbs accurately.”

She also added, “Before pursuing Chinese Medicine, I did my part-time job at a Chinese Medicine clinic in Taiwan for a year. It was a good and enriching experience, which also inspired me to learn more about Chinese Medicine. Hence, I am now in my third year and I hope my knowledge and skills will also be useful to help my family.”