Mekong countries bolster cooperation in traditional medicine

At the event, participants assessed the
implementation of tasks put forward at the previous meeting. They also
discussed regional cooperation in traditional medicine.

Addressing the meeting, Vietnam’s Deputy
Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son underlined that developing traditional
medicine has become an important activity in of nations in
the Greater Mekong Sub-region. He added that the direction is also in line with
the trend in the world with many countries worldwide seeking to use more
products of natural origin and traditional treatment methods using no
medicines.  

The inheritance and development of
traditional medicine, medicinal herbs and , along with the popularisation
and transfer of valuable knowledge in the field also plays a significant role
for public healthcare, he noted.

Vietnam is currently home to 65 public
hospitals and 12,000 private clinics of traditional medicine. Each year, about
30 percent of patients are treated by or in combination
with modern medicine.

The country has paid heed to the
development of research facilities, human resources training and international
cooperation in the field.

Various activities were held during the meeting,
including an exhibition on traditional medicine in Mekong countries and
workshops on incentives for the sector’s development, and a showcase for
traditional medicine practitioners from countries in the region to demonstrate
their traditional therapies.

The Greater Mekong sub-region consists of
Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and China. -VNA