Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long: Traditional medicine must be developed to its full potential.

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of July 4, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long chaired a conference to review 5 years of implementing the Traditional Medicine Development Program (TMDP), combining TMDP with modern medicine.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long chaired the conference to review 5 years of implementing the Program to develop traditional medicine, combining traditional medicine with modern medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

The conference was held online, connecting to provinces and cities across the country. Attending the bridge at the Government headquarters were Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, leaders of ministries, branches, hospitals, associations, universities, and enterprises in the field of traditional medicine.

Nationwide, there are 66 public traditional medicine hospitals and 10 private traditional medicine hospitals.

"In the sustainable flow of traditional medicine, traditional medicine always holds a special position, both as a spiritual heritage and a medical achievement that has been forged over thousands of years of history," Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said at the opening of the conference.

According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, the development of YDCT in the past 5 years has not really been commensurate with its inherent potential and strengths - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

After 5 years of implementing the Program, the traditional medicine network has been consolidated and developed synchronously nationwide. To date, the country has 66 public traditional medicine hospitals and 10 private traditional medicine hospitals, nearly double that of 2019. The ratio of traditional medicine hospital beds reached 16% of the total number of hospital beds, an increase of 2.7% compared to 5 years ago.

During the 2020-2025 period, 30 national-level science and technology tasks on traditional medicine have been approved and implemented. Notably, the field of medicinal plant development has made a breakthrough: Vietnam currently records more than 5,100 species of plants, fungi, hundreds of species of animals, minerals and seaweeds with medicinal uses. 25 provinces have developed plans for medicinal plant growing areas, domestic medicinal plant purchasing units and facilities have increased, and medicinal plant cultivation facilities have developed strongly.

Despite many encouraging results, according to Minister Dao Hong Lan, the development of YDCT in the past 5 years has not really been commensurate with its inherent potential and strengths. A number of important goals, targets, tasks and projects have not been completed as expected.

"General awareness of the role and position of traditional medicine is still limited," said the Minister of Health. Investment resources for the field of traditional medicine - in terms of budget, human resources and facilities - are still modest. Policy mechanisms have not kept up with the development of traditional medicine, and feasibility is not high. Investment resources are not commensurate with the role and importance of traditional medicine...

There should be regulations on training of physicians and pharmacists.

Meanwhile, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Nam, Director of the Central Hospital of Traditional Medicine, the viewpoint of combining traditional medicine and modern medicine in general public health care and treatment and prevention of non-communicable diseases is extremely correct and necessary.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Nam, Director of the Central Hospital of Traditional Medicine, the viewpoint of combining traditional medicine and modern medicine in people's health care is correct and necessary - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

In addition, Mr. Vu Nam warned about the problem of some inconsistent evaluation standards between traditional medicine and modern medicine; many medicinal herbs and herbal medicines still face many difficulties in terms of origin, quality, etc.

Doctor, People's Physician Dau Xuan Canh, Chairman of the Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association, said that there are currently no regulations on training traditional medicine practitioners and pharmacists.

"This is a gap that we hope to have guidance on training for this group," in the direction of regular training and vocational training, said Mr. Dau Xuan Canh. At the same time, he suggested that the number of physicians trained by vocational training methods can be submitted to the National Medical Council for appraisal to issue certificates. If this group is trained systematically and controlled, the situation of "fake physicians" can be avoided.

Doctor, People's Physician Dau Xuan Canh, Chairman of the Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association, said that there are currently no regulations on training traditional medicine practitioners and herbalists - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Discussing this opinion, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the Ministry was assigned to draft a Directive on enhancing the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine; promoting research, application of science, technology, innovation and creativity to develop Vietnamese traditional medicine in the coming period. This includes the responsibility of ministries and branches in building a database of medicinal herbs, medicinal ingredients and traditional remedies; strengthening the management, propaganda and inspection of information and advertising activities on traditional medicine, and strictly handling violations.

In addition, promote the training of specialized, high-quality traditional medicine human resources; research and develop a training program for traditional medicine practitioners;...

4 positive results

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long emphasized the role of traditional medicine, an important part of Vietnamese medicine. Traditional medicine has accompanied the nation's history with the four diagnoses (observation, hearing, questioning, and palpation - 4 basic methods of medical examination in traditional medicine).

The current legal system always has a part on medicine and pharmacy, however, the level is different in each period, the Deputy Prime Minister said. The conference to review 5 years of implementing Decision 1893 on this field shows that we have been paying attention to YDCT.

Concluding the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long emphasized the role of traditional medicine, an important part of Vietnamese medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Traditional Medicine Development Program has been seriously implemented, with four positive results. Firstly, the traditional medicine medical examination and treatment network has been invested in, newly built, upgraded and expanded. Secondly, the quality of medical examination and treatment services is getting better and better; the rate of patients receiving health care and protection using traditional medicine is increasing; the quality of medicinal herbs and traditional medicine is improving. Thirdly, the socialization of traditional medicine is increasingly developing; the training of traditional medicine staff and scientific research is focused on. In the period of 2017 - 2018, there were 850 graduates, while in the period of 2022 - 2024, there were 1,350 graduates. Fourthly, the application of information technology and digital transformation in management and examination and treatment using traditional medicine has received more attention.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister said that there are still many limitations. Most of the targets set out in Decision 1893 have not been achieved. The Deputy Prime Minister gave an example: the number of provinces and cities (as of July 1) with traditional medicine hospitals has only reached 92% (the target is 95%). The rate of medical examinations using traditional medicine, combining traditional medicine with modern medicine out of the total number of medical examinations and treatments accounts for 3.3%, while the target is 15%.

"We analyze many reasons, but I think one of the most important reasons is awareness," said the Deputy Prime Minister. There has not been adequate attention paid to YDCT. Investment in facilities, mechanisms, and policies has not kept up with demand.

There must be a worthy professional position for YDCT human resources.

In the coming time, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long requested to thoroughly implement the direction of the General Secretary at the working session with the Ministry of Health on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors' Day, which is: "Developing traditional medicine combined with modern medicine. It is necessary to enhance the role of traditional medicine in health care, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases and rehabilitation; combining traditional medicine with modern medicine in diagnosis and treatment; promoting research on folk remedies, improving the scientific nature of traditional medicine; investing in oriental medicine research centers, developing effective herbal treatment methods; supporting the training of traditional medicine doctors, expanding the model of combining eastern and western medicine".

In the coming time, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long requested to thoroughly implement the direction of the General Secretary at the working session with the Ministry of Health on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day, which is: Developing Traditional Medicine combined with Modern Medicine - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

The Draft Resolution of the Politburo on breakthroughs in public health care also emphasizes the promotion of combining traditional medicine with modern medicine in training medical personnel, disease prevention, medical examination and treatment, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases, rehabilitation, disease prevention by health care methods, macrobiotics, etc.

"The political foundation, determination and will of the Leader are clear, now our responsibility is to organize and implement", how can YDCT really develop to its full potential, the Deputy Prime Minister stated. Accordingly, many solutions must be synchronously deployed.

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that we must strongly innovate our thinking. There are very specific, feasible solutions with long-term strategic significance.

Review current legal documents to see if the content, requirements, regulations on content and implementation methods related to traditional medicine are sufficient.

Regarding human resource training and development, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that there must be a worthy professional position for YDCT human resources.

Early completion of procedures to build new facility 2 of Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine.

Regarding science and technology, the Deputy Prime Minister said that there must be scientific research bearing our mark, "I support the idea of ​​having Vietnamese traditional medicine products similar to OCOP products". There must be a synchronous movement of the Insurance agency in promoting the use of these products.

Regarding investment resources, in specific resolutions and projects, there will be proposals to focus on a number of key hospitals.

Regarding medicinal resources, the Deputy Prime Minister said that we should learn from the model of Quang Nam in the past (now Da Nang), with the Project to develop and form a Medicinal Industry Center in Quang Nam province, with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the main crop.

The Deputy Prime Minister agreed with the idea of ​​combining the four sectors, in which the State creates favorable conditions in terms of policies and mechanisms. Second, there must be science and technology. "Sometimes the products we produce are very good, but if we do not know how to transport, preserve, and process, the quality will decrease. And if the process is just a little bit different, or not scientifically correct, it cannot be sold." And the role of enterprises is indispensable, the Deputy Prime Minister clearly stated. There must be large corporations investing in this field, to support farmers and scientists to create specific pharmaceuticals.

Regarding international cooperation, the Deputy Prime Minister said he will work with the Ministry of Education and Training to discuss solutions to implement the General Secretary's direction in developing specific policies and projects to send students to study abroad, including traditional medicine.

It is necessary to strengthen information and propaganda to promote products, services, and cultural values ​​of traditional medicine; raise people's awareness of prevention and treatment methods using traditional medicine and traditional medicines.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to absorb the opinions at the Conference to complete the Prime Minister's Directive on developing traditional medicine.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has appropriate and specific policies to expand the pilot forest environment leasing to promote the development of domestic medicinal resources.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade presides over and coordinates with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize trade promotion, support businesses to connect and cooperate with countries in the region and around the world to effectively exploit foreign markets.

The Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions continues to direct the development of medicinal herbs, promoting the advantages of precious medicinal herbs with economic value in the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Duc Tuan

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/pho-thu-tuong-le-thanh-long-phai-dua-y-duoc-co-truyen-phat-trien-dung-tam-102250704151056073.htm