Health sector urged to develop traditional medicine hinh anh 1Producing herbal medicine at the Traditional Medicine Institute in Ho Chi Minh City - Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)
 
 
Hanoi (VNA) – Preserving valuable traditional medicine is a vital task of the health sector, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Traditional Medicine Management Department under the Health Ministry (1957-2017) in Hanoi on June 6.

The Deputy PM said the nation’s traditional medicine heritage has been passed down through generations, which should be used in combination with modern medicine.

On June 7, 1957, the Oriental Medicine Department, now the Traditional Medicine Management Department, was established under the Health Ministry. Since then, the traditional medicine sector has developed into a network of 64 public specialized hospitals and three private ones.

In addition, about 92.7 percent of general hospitals have a traditional medicine department or sub-department, and nearly 85 percent of communal medical stations provide treatment using both traditional and modern methods, according to Pham Vu Khanh, Director of the department.

Human resources training for the field has received attention, with a specialised training institute, and departments in many medical training establishments..

On the occasion, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam presented the Government’s certificates of merit to outstanding collectives and individuals in the field.

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,300 medicinal plant species have been found in Vietnam, and herbal medicine is manufactured under the World Health Organisation’s good manufacturing practices.-VNA

VNA