A delegation consisting of directors of Chinese Traditional Medicine hospitals visited Semmelweis University’s Heart and Vascular Centre and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Dr. Béla Merkely, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs and director of the Heart and Vascular Centre introduced the institution to the guests.

“Semmelweis University is one of Hungary’s largest healthcare providers. 25 percent of heart surgeries are performed in Budapest and the number of deaths caused by heart attacks has been reduced by 63 percent in the past few years. We operate with state-of-the-art equipment and the institution has become the largest centre for heart transplantation in the European Union with its yearly balance of 50 cardiac transplantations.”, he said.

He gave a tour of the Centre showing the delegation the latest technological innovations and the department of diagnostic imaging.  

Chinese delegationAt the Faculty of Health Sciences the delegation was received by Dr. Zoltán Zsolt Nagy, Dean, Dr. István Vingender, Vice-Dean for Educational Affairs, Dr. Péter Kanizsai, Head of the Faculty’s International Department and Virginia Berger from the Faculty’s  International Department. Dr. Zoltán Zsolt Nagy introduced the Faculty highlighting the fact that it is Semmelweis University’s second largest faculty accommodating 3500 students.

“Our most sought after programmes are Physiotherapy, Midwifery, Paramedics, Health Visitor, Optometry, Picture Imaging Diagnostic Analysis and Dietetics. The first students of the Traditional Chinese Medicine programme, launched five years ago are going to graduate this year.”, he said.

The members of the delegation were mainly interested in the Public Health Inspector and Health Visitor programmes. The dean assured them of the faculty’s cooperation and assistance in case they wanted to launch similar programmes in China. Both parties also agreed on the mutual goal of bringing Traditional Chinese Medicine to an advanced level in Hungary and on training professionals who could successfully apply a harmonic blend of Western and traditional Oriental medicine.

“According to the new Hungarian regulations, 5-year programmes involving acupuncture, applied kinesiology or fiotherapy and a one-year practice in China award participants with a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine recognised by the Hungarian State.”, Dr. Zoltán Zsolt Nagy said.

The meeting was followed by a tour of the Faculty’s simulation rooms lead by Dr. Péter Kanizsai. The delegation’s visit was organised by Richter Gedeon Nyrt.

Péter Pogrányi
Photo: Gábor Haller
Translation: Ágnes Raubinek