Vietnam attends first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
VOV.VN - Several Vietnamese delegates are attending the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, which is currently taking place in Gandhinagar of Gujarat state in India.
The event, held alongside the G20 health ministerial meeting, seeks to mobilise political commitment and evidence-based action on traditional medicine, which is the first port of call for millions of people worldwide in order to address their health and well-being needs.
The Global Summit, co-hosted by the World Health Organisation and the Indian Government, serves as a platform for all stakeholders, including traditional medicine workers, users, policymakers, and international organisations, among others, to share best practices and game-changing evidence, along with showcasing data and innovation on the contribution of traditional medicine to health and sustainable development.
Addressing the event, Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, co-founder and vice director of Sao Thai Duong Joint Stock Company of Vietnam, highlighted several important aspects of promoting innovation in traditional medicine and recommended several strategic solutions and necessary actions to be taken moving forward.
She also shared Government orientations for the development of traditional medicine in Vietnam, as well as the application of scientific and technological advances in medical examination and treatment and manufacturing of traditional medicine in the country.
For centuries, traditional and complementary medicine has been an integral resource for health in households and communities. Indeed, it has been at the frontier of medicine and science, laying the foundation for conventional medical texts.
According to the WHO, around 40% of pharmaceutical products today have a natural product basis, whilst landmark drugs derive from traditional medicine, including aspirin, artemisinin, and childhood cancer treatments.
There are growing industries for herbal medicines, natural products, health, wellness, and related travel. Currently, 170 Member States reported to the WHO on the use of traditional medicine and have requested evidence and data to inform policies, standards, and regulation for its safe, cost-effective and equitable use.
