Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge of local communities could help position the State as a centre for integrative medicine research, provided such knowledge is studied responsibly and supported by scientific evidence.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the State’s natural resources and diverse cultural heritage offered opportunities to explore traditional practices and herbal products that could contribute to public health and well-being.
“I hope local researchers can take advantage of this opportunity to study and introduce herbal products and traditional practices of Sabah to the international stage responsibly,” he said at the opening of the Second International Conference on Integrative and Complementary Medicine (ICIM 2026) at Le Meridien Hotel, here.
His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Caesar Mandela Malakun.
Hajiji said research involving traditional knowledge must be conducted with the consent and participation of local communities, whose contributions should be recognised and who should share fairly in the benefits.
He said patient safety and scientific evidence must remain priorities as researchers and healthcare practitioners explored the potential of traditional and complementary medicine.
“Respect for tradition should be accompanied by a rigorous assessment of the effectiveness, quality and suitability of practices,” he said.
He said collaboration among universities, healthcare authorities, practitioners and communities was essential to strengthen research and provide clear information to help the public make informed healthcare decisions.
Hajiji expressed hope that Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) would continue bridging academic knowledge, healthcare services and local knowledge through collaboration with the State Health Department, professional partners and communities.
He said integrative medicine promoted a comprehensive approach to healthcare encompassing disease prevention, nutrition, lifestyle, mental well-being and family support.
Sabah’s cultural diversity also provided an important perspective for integrative medicine, as patients’ healthcare decisions could be influenced by their languages, beliefs, family relationships, social connections, spirituality and environment.
Hajiji said respecting patients’ values and circumstances could encourage open communication and strengthen trust between patients and healthcare professionals.
Meanwhile, conference chair Dr Thong Vie Chong said Sabah was a meaningful setting for the international gathering because its multicultural society and indigenous communities offered valuable perspectives on traditional healing practices and approaches to well-being.
He said the conference aimed to bring clinicians, researchers, educators, practitioners and policymakers together to examine integrative and complementary medicine through open discussion and scientific inquiry.
He added that research into traditional practices should involve the communities holding the knowledge, with their contributions and rights respected.
“The future of complementary and integrative medicine would depend on the quality of the evidence that we generate and the standards that we uphold,” he said.
UMS Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Dean Associate Professor Dr Fairrul Kadir @ Masnah said universities had a responsibility to investigate traditional practices using appropriate research methods, communicate findings accurately and acknowledge uncertainty where evidence remained limited.
“Healthcare professionals also needed to discuss complementary practices with patients respectfully, assess available evidence and recognise potential safety concerns,” he said.
The two-day ICIM 2026, organised by the Malaysian Medical Association’s Committee of Integrative Medicine in collaboration with UMS’ Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, brought together medical professionals, researchers, practitioners and educators to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Hajiji said the conference aligned with the State Government’s aspiration to position Sabah as a centre of academic and research excellence and a medical tourism hub, while encouraging partnerships that could improve the quality of healthcare services.
