Developing traditional medicine in the new period is not about returning to the old method but about inheriting the quintessence of our ancestors on the basis of modern science and technology, making this field a part of the national medicine and a resource for national development.
TTND. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dau Xuan Canh, Chairman of the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association, said that the Association orients the construction of a "national traditional medicine ecosystem", connecting doctors, patients, traditional knowledge with modern science, medicinal herb areas with processing industries, and linking medical examination and treatment with training, research and health tourism.
Towards the Strategy for Development of Traditional Medicine to 2030, vision 2045, the Ministry of Health proposed that the Association participate in completing policies on medical examination and treatment, health insurance, training, licensing, knowledge preservation, medicinal herbs and science and technology.
According to Decision 1250/QD-TTg dated July 9, 2026, the Government also sets a goal to overcome shortcomings and enhance the responsibility of ministries, sectors, and localities in preserving, promoting, and raising the level of traditional medicine, serving the care, protection, and improvement of people's health.
The Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association currently has nearly 70,000 members, more than 10,000 diagnostic and treatment rooms, and traditional medicine centers nationwide.
In 2025, about 7 million people will be examined and treated with traditional medicine. The health insurance fund will pay for hundreds of traditional medicines, medicines from medicinal herbs and 349 traditional medicines. Many specialized techniques are being deployed, contributing to reducing the burden on upper levels" - Standing Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha shared at the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association on August 20.
However, Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha said that the potential of traditional medicine has not been promoted commensurately. The rate of medical examination and treatment is still low, the quality of human resources is not uniform; research, technical standardization and digital transformation have not met the requirements. Domestic medicinal herbs are still limited in terms of varieties, growing areas, standards, traceability and deep processing.
The situation of unlicensed practice, false advertising, and the use of poor quality medicinal herbs still exists, affecting people's health and trust.
In the context of an aging population and increasing chronic diseases, the demand for rehabilitation, long-term and home care is increasing. This is an opportunity for traditional medicine to promote its strengths in disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and comprehensive care.
Leaders of the Ministry of Health proposed that the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association focus on 7 groups of tasks in the coming period, in which the focus is on promoting the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine based on evidence. The two medical systems need to complement each other for the benefit of patients.
Experts, physicians, institutes, schools and hospitals need to coordinate in developing professional guidelines, combined protocols, clinical research, and assessing safety and effectiveness. Valuable remedies and treatment methods need to be researched, proven and standardized before being widely applied.
According to the Ministry of Health, the development of traditional medicine is not to return to the old method, but to inherit the quintessence of our ancestors on the basis of modern science and technology, making this field an important part of the national medicine.
Another task is to digitize the knowledge base of traditional medicine, build a national database. Family remedies and local knowledge need to be inventoried, evaluated, digitized, and at the same time protect intellectual property rights, avoiding loss or uncontrolled exploitation.
