Rawatan

Rawatan is a term used in Malay and Indonesian languages meaning treatment or therapy for illness, injury, or health problems. It encompasses the methods used to manage a condition, including medical, surgical, rehabilitative, psychological, and preventive approaches. Rawatan can be categorized as curative, aiming to eradicate disease; palliative, focusing on symptom relief; preventive, to reduce risk; and supportive or rehabilitative, to restore function.

Decision-making for rawatan involves assessment of diagnosis, prognosis, available evidence, risks and benefits, and patient preferences. In modern health systems, rawatan is guided by clinical guidelines, safety considerations, and regulatory oversight of medicines, devices, and procedures. Informed consent and ongoing monitoring are integral to treatment.

Rawatan may be delivered within formal healthcare settings or, in some contexts, through traditional or complementary practices alongside conventional care. In many Malay-speaking countries, there is a continuum between rawatan tradisional (often herbal or spiritual therapies) and rawatan moden (pharmacological and surgical interventions). Evidence-based medicine emphasizes evaluating effectiveness and safety through clinical research.

Access and equity affect rawatan availability, with considerations for cost, insurance, proximity to services, and cultural beliefs. Ethical principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, apply to all treatment decisions.

In practice, rawatan often reflects a blend of modern medicine with traditional approaches, reflecting cultural beliefs and patient preferences.