09/02/2026
I was honoured to attend the Launch Ceremony of the Malaysian Edition of the Illustrated Atlas of Chinese Medicinal Materials Identification and the Forum on Authenticity Identification of Chinese Medicinal Materials, held at Blok E7, Kompleks E, Ministry of Health (MOH), Putrajaya. The event was jointly organized by the Bahagian Perubatan Tradisional dan Komplementari, KKM Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) Division, KEMENTERIAN KESIHATAN MALAYSIA, and the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).
The atlas, Chinese Medicinal Identification: An Integrated Approach, was collaboratively compiled by Professor Zhao’s team, the T&CM Division, and FRIM. This authoritative publication aims to strengthen professional standards within the Chinese medicinal materials industry, enhance capabilities in authenticity identification, and provide a scientific and reliable reference for practitioners, institutions, regulators, and the public.
During the launch session, Prof. Zhao elaborated on the background of the compilation, its academic significance, and its value in quality control and the international application of Chinese medicinal materials. Richly illustrated with high-quality reference images, the atlas represents a practical, standardized, and evidence-based tool for professional use, and it received strong recognition from attending experts.
The forum brought together distinguished experts from academia, regulatory bodies, and industry, including Professor Zhao Zhongzhen; Dr. Zhang Wei (Guangzhou Institute for Drug Control); Professor Wu Menghua (Jinan University); Professor Ye Qiaobo and Professor Qin Kaihua (Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine); as well as Dr. Eric Brand of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
Thematic presentations covered key topics such as quality and safety assurance of Chinese medicinal materials, advances in authentication technologies, and the development of international standards.
During the dialogue session, I had the opportunity to raise a question regarding effective methods for ensuring the authenticity and safe use of Chinese medicinal materials. Experts emphasized that modern identification increasingly relies on multidisciplinary collaboration involving TCM practitioners, botanists, and laboratory scientists, as well as the growing importance of traceability systems—from cultivation and processing to distribution—to systematically safeguard quality and safety.
It was also encouraging to hear international experts acknowledge the steady and promising development of traditional Chinese medicine in Malaysia. Malaysia’s multicultural healthcare landscape provides a unique platform for meaningful exchange and mutual learning among traditional Chinese, Malay, and Indian traditional medicine systems, creating strong potential for future clinical and research innovation.
北京中医药大学马来西亚校友会 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Malaysian Alumni
