In-depth professional exchange between Vietnamese and foreign lecturers. Photo: Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy

Promotion of traditional medicine

At the end of May 2023, the Chilean International School of Medicine delegation led by Rector Luis Pedrero went to Vietnam to exchange expertise and experience with the staff of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy.

Luis Pedrero said that in order to have this academic exchange program, he tried to contact the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy since 2019. Until 2022, with the help of the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile, the Chile International School of Medicine successfully contacted the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy to organize this business trip.

Practice session of lecturers of the Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy and international students. Photo: Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy

"I think this experience exchange is useful, helping us to improve our level and better understand the Vietnamese people since ancient times in how to live and treat diseases," said Luis Pedro said.

Student Hugo Cistenas was impressed by the Vietnam's medical professional. “This program completely changed my view of Vietnam. Before, we only knew that this was a country that went through many wars, was devastated and was far away. However, now I know that your country is not inferior to any other country, the traditional medicine of Vietnam is unique. I look forward to the next cooperation and exchange, so that we have the opportunity to welcome Vietnamese lecturers and doctors to Chile and vice versa."

After this program, the Chile International School of Medicine and the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Medicine reached an agreement to sign a long-term cooperation, in which the two sides will continue to exchange lecturers and students in the future.

It is expected that in 2024, the Chile International School of Medicine will invite a delegation of Vietnamese lecturers and doctors to visit and have academic exchanges with medical schools in Chile as well as the Latin region.

Development not commensurate with potential

Nguyen Quoc Huy, director of the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy explained the importance of traditional medicine.

“Traditional medicine existed for thousands of years, has unique characteristics from ancient times, combined with modern medicine. It has absorbed the quintessence from other countries for us to build the current traditional medicine. We need to preserve the precious medicinal resources and traditional medical methods. We need to promote them to friends around the world, especially in the current period, when the world trend is gradually appreciating non-drug treatments”.

Overview of the event. Photo: Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy

Assessing the position of Vietnamese traditional medicine in the world, Doctor Tran Duc Huu, Tue Tinh Hospital believes that Vietnamese traditional medicine will make a big impact on the future.

“Vietnamese traditional medicine is in the top, along with China, Japan and Korea. China has a long history of medicine and they have successfully built this field into the "national treasure" of the country. In Vietnam, we are still on the rise and need to focus on promoting more so that international friends know and recognize the value of Vietnamese traditional medicine."

The signing ceremony of cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy and the Chilean International School of Medicine. Photo: Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy

Teaching, treatment and business establishments of traditional Vietnamese medicine established regular cooperative relationships with China since 2008.

In 2019, Vietnamese units participated in AROGYA 2019 fair in India and reached many agreements. In Latin America, since 2005, Vietnam started to exchange experts, cooperate in teaching and training medicine and doctors for countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Panama.

However, the number and scale of programs are still small. Besides, with Western countries, most partners connected to schools and hospitals in Vietnam. Vietnam has not had many activities to promote traditional medicine in these countries.

"The field of traditional medicine needs to be promoted by the media to further promote cooperation, and bring this field to foreign countries because the potential for development is great," said Doctor Tran Duc Huu.

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