Strategic Approaches of Medical Field against Establishment State-run National Graduate School of Oriental Medicine

ABSTRACT

The Government decided to establish a graduate school of oriental medicine at Pusan National University despite strong opposition from medical field. By establishing a graduate school of oriental medicine, the Government aims at educating competitive healthcare professionals in research to meet fast-changing medical circumstances such as aging society, increasing chronic diseases, public interests in alternative medicine and its evidence-based approach. The Government is also taking this as an opportunity to improve the quality of healthcare service by settling a collaborative treatment system between western and orinetal medicine as well as fostering oriental medicine into high value-added industry. However, it raises a concern that evidence-based approach and standardization of oriental medicine through establishment of a graduate school might leave little room for oriental medicine doctors who depend mainly on traditional experiences and thus lose their leading roles in oriental medicine. Field of western medicine is no exception. If they continue to neglect scientific research in oriental medicine and complementary alternative medicine, the leadership of integrative medicine will shift to oriental medical doctors equipped with scientific knowledge. The situation asks medical field to take active steps and show their propose on education model is more ompetitive by achieving excellent research results through establishment of research center for oriental medicine and complementary alternative medicine within the framework of medical college education.