EVEN as the government gears for the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, the Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for the rational and safe use of traditional and alternative healthcare methods.
In a statement, DOH-Calabarzon Director Eduardo Janairo bared that they have created the Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) program with the objective of providing and incorporating the benefits of traditional medicine and the advances in alternative technology.
"In complementary and alternative medicine, anyone can benefit, be those with illnesses or none," said Janairo.
"Each person will respond differently to each practice, such as acupuncture, which can help not just those with chronic pain, but is also effective for those with arthritis and headache," he added.
In advocating such methods, Janairo said they aim to ensure that treatments, such as acupuncture, ventosa, and moxibustion, are done correctly.
"Although they are getting popular in the medical and wellness sector, we still have to make sure that these procedures are properly applied and practiced by health professionals with the utmost safety to avoid any incident,” said Janairo.
This, he said, is the reason why they organized several batches of “Basic Training on Acupuncture, Ventosa And Moxibustion" for several doctors and nurses.
The five-day training will focus on acupuncture (a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person's skin at specific points on the body), ventosa (placing special cups on the skin for a few minutes to create suction), and moxibustion (a form of heat therapy where "moxa", a substance obtained from dried leaves, are burned on or very near the surface of the skin).
"The demand continues to rise and it is important to be selective of what traditional method or approach to use – safety must be the primary consideration,” said Janairo.
The DOH said it will soon include other alternative healthcare methods, such as the ayurveda, naturopathy, and homeopathy, in the trainings. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)