On the Draft Bill of National Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Act, 2026 (TCAM Act, 2026)
By Ilahi Bux
The Federal Government’s decision to introduce the National Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Act, 2026 (TCAM Act, 2026) is a timely and courageous reform aimed at correcting decades of weak, fragmented and ineffective regulation of traditional systems of medicine in Pakistan.
For many years, the Homoeopathic and Tibbi Councils, functioning under the outdated Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners Act, 1965, have failed to ensure professional standards, institutional discipline and patient safety. Their poor performance, limited regulatory capacity and growing public dissatisfaction have made it necessary to move towards a modern, unified and accountable regulatory system.
The proposed TCAM Act repeals the obsolete 1965 law and establishes a National Council for Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) to regulate all major traditional systems including Homoeopathy, Unani Tibb, Ayurveda, Siddha and other recognized disciplines under one professional umbrella. This integration is not a dilution of traditions but a strengthening of governance, quality and credibility of these systems.
Under the draft law, a 12-member Regulatory Council will be created with experts, ex-officio members and assured female representation. The Council will set uniform education standards, accredit institutions, maintain practitioner registers and enforce a Code of Ethics. One-year compulsory internships, auxiliary qualifications for healthcare support staff, and strict penalties for quackery, false claims and unethical conduct will significantly improve patient protection.
Importantly, the Act safeguards existing practitioners through transitional arrangements while gradually replacing weak four-year diplomas with HEC-aligned degree programs. Bridging pathways will allow legacy practitioners to upgrade their qualifications without disruption.
The inclusion of inspection powers, digital registers, equivalence examinations, conflict-of-interest rules and coordination with HEC and DRAP shows that the Government intends to bring TCAM into the framework of modern healthcare governance rather than allowing it to remain an informal or loosely regulated sector.
At a time when millions of Pakistanis rely on traditional medicine due to affordability and accessibility, the TCAM Act, 2026 responds to the urgent need for standardization, safety and accountability. It also supports the constitutional obligation of the State to provide accessible and quality healthcare to all citizens.
The move to merge and restructure the underperforming Homoeopathic and Tibbi Councils into a single national TCAM authority should be welcomed as a reform in public interest, not resisted as an institutional loss. Strong institutions matter more than weak and divided councils.
The public-interest stakeholders urge early parliamentary approval of the TCAM Act, 2026 so that the new Council can become operational and begin restoring confidence, professional discipline and public trust in traditional medicine systems.
This reform offers Pakistan a rare opportunity to position itself as a regional leader in regulated, evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine, serving both public health and national development.
About the Author:
Ilahi Bux is a senior public health and regulatory professional with extensive experience in Pakistan’s healthcare governance sector. He has served in key roles with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of National Health Services, and the National Council for Homoeopathy. His work focuses on health regulation, policy oversight, and institutional strengthening in the public sector.
Read in Urdu: نیشنل ٹریڈیشنل، کمپلیمنٹری اینڈ آلٹرنیٹو میڈیسن ایکٹ 2026: ایک بروقت اور جرات مندانہ اصلاح
