Developing traditional medicine is preserving identity, demonstrating the spirit of national self-reliance.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long: Developing traditional medicine is preserving identity, demonstrating the spirit of national self-reliance - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

This morning, May 19, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long attended the 20th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine.

Also attending were representatives of leaders of ministries, branches, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Ha Vi and staff, lecturers and students of the Academy through the periods.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long said that our country has a long-standing traditional medicine, formed very early, inheriting the quintessence of the nation with famous physicians, shining examples of medical theory, medical ethics, and medical skills such as: Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac, Tue Tinh...

"With inherent potential and advantages, developing traditional medicine into a strong science in our country is a correct, important and urgent direction, not only contributing to caring for and protecting people's health, but also contributing to economic growth, promoting Vietnamese culture and national identity to the world," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long congratulated and commended the outstanding achievements of generations of teachers and students of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Over the past years, the Party, State and Government have always paid attention to, issued and effectively implemented many policies, guidelines, mechanisms and policies to preserve, develop and promote the value of Vietnamese traditional medicine. The system of policies and laws on traditional medicine has been constantly improved. State management, examination and treatment with traditional medicine, cultivation, processing and use of medicinal herbs, scientific research and international cooperation in the field of traditional medicine have received attention and investment.

Unique and specialized traditional medical examination and treatment techniques, non-drug diagnostic and treatment methods, traditional medicine prescriptions and ingredients are researched and developed. The Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association at all levels is strengthened and operates actively and effectively.

Up to now, the country has 14 units training human resources in traditional medicine and pharmacy at university level, including the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the Traditional Room of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

"We are pleased to see that after 20 years of establishment, construction and development, and 55 years of tradition, generations of cadres, lecturers and students of the Academy have always been united, made efforts and achieved very proud results," Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long assessed.

The Academy's training activities have made an important contribution to the building and development of traditional medicine staff with nearly 11,000 university and postgraduate medical staff, accounting for over 50% of traditional medicine human resources nationwide.

The Academy has effectively implemented many scientific research cooperation activities with prestigious training and scientific research institutions and universities in China; cooperated in training, scientific research and medical examination and treatment with many partners in Europe and Asia such as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Korea, Japan, etc.

On behalf of the Government and the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long congratulated and commended the outstanding achievements of generations of teachers and students of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine, contributing positively to the development of Vietnamese traditional medicine as well as the cause of protecting, caring for and improving people's health.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long visits the Traditional Medicine Department of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Promoting traditional medicine heritage, aiming for high-quality training in the new era

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long stated that our country is entering a new era of development with both opportunities and challenges.

In that context, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine to continue promoting its traditions and achievements; actively improve the quality of training and scientific research, aiming to become one of the institutions training specialized, high-quality, core human resources of the health sector; in which, focusing on implementing a number of key tasks.

Firstly, thoroughly grasp the viewpoint: "Developing traditional medicine is contributing to preserving the identity, promoting and developing a part of the culture of the Vietnamese people, demonstrating the spirit of independence and self-reliance of the Vietnamese people". Effectively implement the guidelines, policies, laws of the Party and State on health development in general and traditional medicine in particular, especially the speech of General Secretary To Lam at the working session with the Ministry of Health on the occasion of Vietnamese Doctors' Day, February 27, 2025 and the Resolution of the Politburo on breakthroughs in public health care, which is expected to be issued soon.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long visits the Traditional Medicine Department of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Second, the Deputy Prime Minister requested to promote the spirit of solidarity and creativity, build a clean and strong Party Committee of the Academy; improve governance capacity, operate effectively and efficiently; improve teaching and learning conditions; have appropriate mechanisms and policies to effectively promote the capacity of the academy's staff, lecturers, experts and scientists.

Third, focus on training high-quality human resources, providing human resources for the development of the country's traditional medicine. Innovate thinking in training, combine traditional medicine with modern medicine. Pay attention to and have a special mechanism to train a team of lecturers "deep in medical theory - good at medical skills - rich in medical ethics" to meet the tasks in the new development stage.

Fourth, proactively and effectively implement tasks and solutions for scientific research on traditional medicine; focus on inheriting and applying the medical theory, medical techniques, and medical ethics of famous physicians in training, scientific research, and clinical application; translate, edit, publish, and reprint the legacies of famous physicians left for the country's medicine.

Fifth, strengthen cooperation with specialized higher education institutions and scientific research institutions on traditional medicine in the world, especially in some countries with strengths, such as China with its "profound" traditional medicine. Have specific and effective programs on cooperation, academic exchange, experience, scientific research, medical examination and treatment; attract experts and scientists to work and research, transfer technology... Strive to turn the Academy into a higher education institution with training and research capacity on par with countries with developed traditional medicine.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long writes in the guestbook at the Traditional Room of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Sixth, focus on investing in and upgrading facilities, improving the operational capacity of the Academy to meet development requirements in the new situation. Continue to invest in developing Tue Tinh Hospital into a specialized medical examination and treatment facility in traditional medicine, combining traditional medicine and modern medicine, and being the main practice facility for students and postgraduates of the Academy.

On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to promptly resolve difficulties to quickly and effectively implement the investment project to build a new facility 2 of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine using non-refundable aid from the Chinese Government.

For students, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long hopes that "you will constantly try, be diligent, industrious, actively study, do scientific research, promote your own abilities in the favorable environment of the Academy, strive to become good citizens, good cadres, contribute to the stronger development of Vietnamese traditional medicine, contribute to the cause of caring for and protecting people's health".

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Traditional Room of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine.

Duc Tuan

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/phat-trien-y-hoc-co-truyen-la-bao-ton-ban-sac-the-hien-tinh-than-tu-cuong-dan-toc-102250519125349437.htm