A delegation of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine visited Semmelweis University on July 1, 2016. This visit was organized by the Consulate General of Shanghai. At the end of May, the two universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the occasion of the ceremony held on the 60th anniversary of the Chinese institution.
Vice-President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Zhu Huirong led the Chinese delegation who was welcomed by Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector, Dr. Béla Merkely, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, Dr. István Vingender, Vice-Dean for Educational Affairs of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Dr. Marcel Pop, Director of International Relations.
Rector Szél emphasized the importance of the partnerships with Chinese institutions and Semmelweis University’s intentions to further deepen the collaboration with Shanghai University. This was a special occasion for us, as the delegation of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine visited our university on the birth anniversary of Ignác Semmelweis.
Vice-President Huirong highlighted that a Central and Eastern European – Chinese Ministerial Health Forum was held in Suzhou in June, where an alliance was established between Chinese hospitals and the hospital alliance of the Central and Eastern European region. At this forum Dr. Béla Merkely, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs was appointed as co-president, according to whom the mutual collaboration could be further deepened in two areas: the infrastructural development of the Chinese health care as well as the complementarity between traditional Chinese medicine and evidence based medicine.
The Ministry of Human Capacities has recently established the Central and Eastern European Traditional Chinese Medicine, Education and Research Centre, which will fulfil three roles, in the areas of education, research and health care, as Dr. Olivér Szentpétery, manager of the Centre expressed. According to Dr. Szentpétery the Hungarian Government plans to provide funds for the establishment by closely cooperating with Semmelweis University, especially with the Faculty of Health Sciences.
During the meeting Dr. István Vingender, Vice-Dean, expressed the commitment of the Faculty of Health Sciences in the further development of Chinese relations. He informed the participants of the meeting that Hungarian students studying traditional Chinese medicine have recently received their diplomas for the first time in this programme. This programme has been running at Semmelweis University for 5 years.
It was discussed during the meeting that pharmacy has the biggest potential for mutual collaboration in the area of research. The Chinese institution would participate in student- and staff exchange programmes as well.
Judit Vadlövő, Directorate of International Relations
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Katalin Romhányi
