Opinions & Interviews

MINSK DISTRICT, 16 January (BelTA) – Plans have been made to set up traditional Chinese medicine centers in every oblast capital in Belarus, noted Alexander Sivakov, a chief non-resident alternative health specialist of the Healthcare Ministry. Alexander Sivakov took part in the inauguration of such a center at the Minsk Oblast Clinic Hospital in the agrotown of Lesnoi, Minsk District, BelTA has learned.

“Traditional Chinese medicine centers have already become operational in Minsk, Grodno, Gomel, and Mogilev. Such centers are expected to open in other oblast capitals in 2018,” Alexander Sivakov said.

In his words, the traditional Chinese medicine is not a new thing for Belarusians. Its tried-and-tested methods are officially employed in the country and reflected in the Healthcare Ministry’s regulations. “The Reflexology Department of the Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education has trained quite a few specialists over the last 30 years. They provide medical services to patients in different Belarusian clinics in accordance with relevant methods. The relations with China have been developing rapidly in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. Every year, China’s government gives an internship opportunity to Belarusian doctors for them to learn how to put these methods into practice,” the specialist underlined.

The traditional Chinese medicine uses different methods, he stressed. This primarily refers to acupuncture, moxibustion, and traditional Chinese massage. These techniques are quite effective when used to treat peripheral nervous system disorders, visceral, respiratory, digestive diseases, spine disorders, vascular, joint, cardiovascular, and rheumatic diseases.

For instance, today Belarusian health professionals employ laserpuncture, a traditional Chinese method. Moreover, they use Belarusian-made lasers which are as efficient as their foreign analogues. “The fact that our doctors use multicolor lasers was a surprise even to our Chinese colleagues. Apart from lasers, we also use electric or electromagnetic fields and other cutting-edge technologies in acupuncture. This is about integration. It is safe to say that in some cases the traditional Chinese medicine together with new technologies increases the effectiveness of the existing methods of treatment,” Alexander Sivakov added.

The new traditional Chinese medicine center opened at the Minsk Oblast Clinic Hospital on 16 January. Chinese colleagues are expected to share their experience with fellow Belarusian doctors and hold master classes at the new facility through 28 January.