Building a treatment regimen combining traditional and modern medicine

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong speaks at the workshop - Photo: VGP/HM

At the scientific conference organized by the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine on May 18 with the theme "Inheritance, innovation and integration", Dr. Le Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine, said that the combination of traditional medicine and modern medicine in the treatment of many diseases has brought very positive results for patients, especially diseases related to chronic diseases such as muscles, bones, joints..., some digestive diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or insomnia, back pain, spinal hernia...

Dr. Le Manh Cuong affirmed that we do not need to debate the superiority of traditional medicine but need to calculate how to apply traditional medicine most effectively to the people, from inheriting the quintessence of traditional medicine that has existed for a long time.

The application of traditional medicine has also been proven very effective in treatment at primary health care facilities.

The Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine also stated that although the combination of traditional medicine and modern medicine is currently very effective, this combination is still only mechanical, meaning there is no official combined treatment regimen according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health .

Therefore, this expert proposed that there should be specific and detailed instructions on combining modern medicine and traditional medicine in treating patients from the Ministry of Health, and at the same time, there should be a training program for traditional medicine doctors combining modern medicine right in schools training in this field.

Emphasizing that Vietnam's traditional medicine sector is facing many opportunities and also many challenges in the context of international integration and comprehensive reform of the health system, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that, based on the scientific reports in today's workshop on research, application and coordination of modern medical methods, traditional medicine, combination of modern medicine and traditional medicine, including both medicinal and non-pharmacological (such as acupuncture) to build models and treatment regimens of traditional medicine combined with modern medicine in diseases that have advantages when using traditional medicine.

At the same time, promote the inheritance, preservation and development of traditional medicine, develop medicinal herbs and traditional medicines; strengthen scientific research and technology transfer; improve the effectiveness of international cooperation, promote the building and promotion of the image and brand of Vietnamese traditional medicine internationally.

School Council and reporters attending the Workshop - Photo: VGP/HM

Towards a competency assessment exam

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong also requested that the Vietnamese traditional medicine sector rely on the basic competency standards for Vietnamese traditional medicine doctors issued under Decision No. 3159/QD-BYT in 2022 and the scope of medical examination and treatment practice of traditional medicine doctors according to current regulations, and at the same time refer to international experience through reports of countries with traditions of traditional medicine at this workshop, to innovate and improve the quality of training of Vietnamese traditional medicine doctors, towards the exam to assess the professional competency of traditional medicine doctors according to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, implemented from 2027.

At the same time, the Vietnamese Traditional Medicine sector needs to proactively propose advice to the Ministry of Health and the National Medical Council on expertise in the upcoming competency assessment exam for traditional medicine doctors based on the current situation in Vietnam and the experience of other countries.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Huy, Director of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine, this conference has three major topics: sharing international experiences in organizing professional certification exams, training experiences, evaluating and assessing the capacity of traditional medicine doctors of countries with developed traditional medicine; sharing and discussing research, application and coordination of modern medicine methods, traditional medicine, combining modern medicine and traditional medicine in comprehensive treatment of cancer diseases; updating advances in research and treatment in the field of acupuncture and non-drug methods in traditional medicine.

This workshop was held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and the 55th anniversary of its tradition (1970–2025).

The workshop attracted the participation of 13 international delegations from countries with developed traditional medicine and long-term cooperative relationships with Vietnam, aiming to share experiences in training, organizing assessment of professional capacity, new research, updating advances in treatment, especially cancer treatment...

In recent times, our Party and State have paid great attention to the development of Vietnamese traditional medicine and issued many documents directing the promotion and development of this sector, such as Resolution 20-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, Directive 24-CT/TW dated July 4, 2008, Conclusion No. 86-KL/TW dated July 10, 2024 of the Central Executive Committee, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023, Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy 2024 and decrees and circulars guiding this content.

Thuy Ha

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/xay-dung-phac-do-dieu-tri-ket-hop-y-hoc-co-truyen-va-y-hoc-hien-dai-102250518131150416.htm