Association of Traditional Medicine of Uzbekistan starts its activity
February 2, 2010
Tashkent hosted on February 1 an international conference “Traditional Medicine in a Modern Society. Its role, implications, perspectives” organized by the Fund Forum, the Women’s Council Public Association, Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, Salus Vita Medical Center and the recently established Association of Traditional Medicine of Uzbekistan.
The key event within the conference was the presentation of the Association, whose main goal is to revive, preserve and promote the foundations of eastern medicine and develop international cooperation in this area.
Do Byung Jun, Professor of Oriental Medicine at Korea University:
- I think that the new Association of Traditional Medicine has a big future and it is very good that there is such an organization in Uzbekistan. I have many acquaintances and friends in Uzbekistan and I love this country. In the future, I would like to set up closer collaboration with local doctors and invite them to Korea for opinion exchange.
The main goals of the Association of Traditional Medicine of Uzbekistan:
- to facilitate the development of traditional medicine in Uzbekistan;
- to popularize use of traditional medicine in the treatment and prevention of diseases;
- to develop collaboration and partnership with domestic and foreign organizations;
- to organize and hold congresses, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, etc. with the goal of promoting achievements in traditional medicine;
- to survey public opinion and organize scientific research;
- to participate in the development and implementation of international projects aimed at traditional medicine development;
- to facilitate the strengthening and development of professional links among specialists on traditional medicine;
- to create conditions for the development of traditional medicine schools and specialist training;
- to create scientific, specialized, and encyclopedic articles, magazines, compilations, monographs, etc.
Dr. S. V. Tripathi, Head of Ayurvedic Research Institute (India):
- Each country has its own traditional treatment methods. In India it is Ayurveda, which refers to the art of treatment with natural ways. In our country, chemical medication is not considered the only way to treat disease. This conference in Tashkent is an opportunity to exchange experience, achievements, and knowledge gained in various countries across the world. We can increase the percentage of people cured by using not only synthetic drugs but also herbs. If a person wants to live long it is necessary to use traditional methods which have fewer side effects. And organizations such as the recently established Association of Traditional Medicine of Uzbekistan may help to promote new medical culture.
The new initiative of the Fund Forum and the Women’s Council has drawn great interest from specialists and national and international partners. Organizations that have provided official support in the holding of the conference include the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the Academy of Traditional Medicine of Uzbekistan. Among the guests that attended the event were leading specialists in healthcare and traditional medicine from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, India, China, Latvia, Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries, pharmaceutical companies, representatives of international organizations, diplomatic corps, NGOs, and the media. Around 300 people attended the conference.
Professor Guo Changqing, Head Medic of the Acupuncture Academy of Beijing University for Traditional Chinese Medicine (China):
- This conference is a very important event for all healers, physicians and their patients. This sort of dialogs is very useful since it serves as a platform for opinion exchange. It is an opportunity to learn of treatment methods used in different countries in one day. I am very glad to see that traditional medicine in Uzbekistan is climbing such a high level. I am convinced that the establishment of this Association will eventually result in many discoveries and combinations of traditional and modern medicines.
After welcome speeches by Gulnara Karimova, the Chairperson of the Fund Forum’s Board of Trustees, and Adkham Ikramov, the Minister of Health of Uzbekistan, who told those gathered about the history, development and current state of traditional medicine, speeches were made by the invited scientists, experts and practitioners of local and international organizations such as the WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine (Italy), the Acupuncture Academy of Beijing University for Traditional Chinese Medicine (China), Complementary and integrative Medicine Center of the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany), Ayurvedic Research Institute (India), Korea University, the Center for Aesthetic Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Clinic (Latvia), Botany Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Bulgaria as well as a host of specialists in other types of traditional medicine and folk healers.
Michael Frass, Professor of Medicine, Head of Outpatient Unit, Homeopathy in Malignant Diseases Division of Clinical Oncology (Austria)
- I have come to attend this conference because I am interested in complimentary medicine and the situation with it in other countries. I specialise in homeopathy. This sort of events is an excellent opportunity to learn what is happening in this area in other countries. Each country has its own unique experience in the use of non-chemical medication in treatment, in particular in Uzbekistan, where Avicenna was born. We are planning to set up cooperation between universities in Austria and Uzbekistan. The international conference in Tashkent is an opportunity to help modern medicine and to popularise traditional medicine at political and economic levels.
Many of the participants emphasised the particular status of traditional medicine as it is part of the culture and history of many nations. Traditional medicine represents experience of the survival of mankind in changing life conditions whose position has been cemented with the development of modern medicine. More and more specialists are speaking of the need for well organized work of both these medicines.
Ljuba Evstatieva, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Institute of Botany of BAS:
- In our country traditional medicine has a long history, and it is very popular with the population. This international conference meets our interests and it is a pleasure to attend it. What was done in the past is taking rise again. Traditional recipes are time-tested methods while most synthetic drugs are not used for a long time and are replaced by other drugs. And I am pleased to congratulate you on the establishment of the Association.
The conference included an exchange of opinions on traditional medicine and discussed modern trends and problems, defined further plans and priorities in the development of international cooperation.
Professor Umberto Solimene, Director of the Center for Research on Medical Bioclimatology, Biotechnologies, and Natural Medicines of Milan University, Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine (Italy):
- Integrative medicine, which combines modern and traditional medicines, is the medicine of the future. In many countries, 50 to 80% of the population use traditional medical services. Aqua therapy, for instance, is very popular in Italy. Nowadays Europe is faced with the problem of aging population and the increasing number of chronic diseases. In this situation, the country needs the help of traditional medicine which helps to lower the costs of treatment and to increase the effectiveness of measures taken. This is why conferences of this kind, especially in Avicenna’s homeland, help attract attention to the urgency of the issue and to bring together specialists and all those interested in improving their health.
The conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum on the Establishment of the International Association of Traditional Medicine. Gulnara Karimova is expected to become President of the International Association as has been proposed unanimously. The main office of the Association will be located in Uzbekistan, the homeland of Avicenna, one of the founders of modern medical science.
The day before the conference in Tashkent, a practical seminar titled “Malakhov+ the guest of the Women’s Council” was held in Tashkent. For the first time, Gennadiy Malakhov, a famous folk healer, advocate for a healthy lifestyle and host of a popular Russian TV show “Malakhov Plus”, shared his experience in Uzbekistan.
Gennadiy Malakhov, show host, advocate for a healthy lifestyle, and the author of a number of books on healthcare (Russia):
- Traditional medicine helps keep our body well toned. It’s vital that everyone should take care of their body and take preventive measures. I believe that events of this kind will help encourage people to take care of their health and watch the food they eat. I am happy to be among those attending the conference because I have learned a lot and met interesting people. I am grateful to the organizers for the opportunity to participate in this discussion on traditional medicine. I am sure that this first meeting will lead to many discussions and discoveries in this area in the future.
The day after conference the participants went on a tour of Afshona settlement near Bukhara where the outstanding philosopher and physician Avicenna was born.
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