Hanoi (VNA) – The ninthmeeting on traditional medicine and folk medicine in the greater Mekong basinbegan in Hanoi on September 5, with the participation of nearly 500international delegates.

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

Addressing the meeting, Vietnam’s DeputyMinister of Health Nguyen Truong Son underlined that developing traditionalmedicine has become an important activity in public healthcare of nations inthe Greater Mekong Sub-region. He added that the direction is also in line withthe trend in the world with many countries worldwide seeking to use moreproducts of natural origin and traditional treatment methods using nomedicines.  

The inheritance and development oftraditional medicine, medicinal herbs and folk medicine, along with the popularisationand transfer of valuable knowledge in the field also plays a significant rolefor public healthcare, he noted.

Vietnam is currently home to 65 publichospitals and 12,000 private clinics of traditional medicine. Each year, about30 percent of patients are treated by traditional medicine or in combinationwith modern medicine.

The country has paid heed to thedevelopment of research facilities, human resources training and internationalcooperation in the field.

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

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