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Jigmi Wangdi
The first National Sorig Conference held in Bhutan on May 17, 2023 marked an important step in integrating traditional and modern healthcare practices. The conference, aimed at improving overall healthcare in the country, invited renowned health experts.
Professor (Colonel) Dr. Tashi Tenzin, Consultant General Surgeon and Neurosurgeon, stressed the need for an integrated approach to healthcare. He advocated for collaboration between state traditional hospitals and modern hospitals that practice allopathic medicine.
“Integration is critical,” Dr. Tashi said. “Currently, patients often take traditional and modern medicines in secret without notifying their doctors to avoid scrutiny. A lack of communication can lead to safety issues and ineffective treatments.”
A key issue Dr. Tashi highlights is the lack of comprehensive data and research on the efficacy of Sowa Rigpa (traditional medicine).
He added that while a referral system exists between traditional and modern hospitals, the system is underutilized and needs to be strengthened. “We must strengthen this referral system to ensure patients receive the best care,” said Dr. Tashi Tenzin.
Dr. Tashi also stressed the importance of conducting thorough research to determine the safety and effectiveness of combining traditional medicines with modern medicines. “We need to determine which traditional medicines can be safely combined with modern treatments and understand which diseases can be more effectively treated with an integrated approach.”
There are several potential advantages to the integration of traditional and modern health care.
Patients will benefit the most because the disease can be treated more effectively with a combined approach.
However, Dr. Tashi also said that there are currently some challenges, such as uncertainty about the safety of drugs when used in combination, lack of standard protocols, and lack of regulatory control.
Dr. Tashi proposed several initiatives to promote integration. These include clinical trials, collaborative studies, and studies focused on safety and quality control.
“We need to establish formal channels for the exchange of knowledge and skills between the two systems,” added Dr. Tashi. “Facilitating collaborative research on selected herbal products and disease conditions, strengthening formal referral systems, improving data management and joint scientific forums are An essential step.”
Dr. Tashi shared that integrative medicine is a practice that focuses on the whole person, using all appropriate treatments and healthcare professionals to achieve optimal health and recovery.
“The combination of Chinese and Western medicine takes care of the whole human being; body, mind, spirit and community, not just flesh, bones and organs. This holistic approach is becoming an ideal and logical choice for many people,” he said.
The conference highlighted the potential of integrating traditional and modern healthcare systems, paving the way for improving health outcomes in Bhutan.
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