With the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recognizing doctors specializing in traditional Korean medicine, the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sept. 17 said it began bilateral talks to allow such doctors to practice in the Mideast country. (iClickArt) (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of this image is prohibited under copyright law.)

By Charles Audouin

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially designated doctors of traditional Korean medicine independently licensed medical workers.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Seoul on Sept. 17 said it began talks with the UAE government to advance such medicine to the Mideast country after the latter approved licenses for doctors specializing in such medicine and related areas of treatment.

The UAE in April became the first Middle Eastern country to set licensing standards for traditional Korean medicine. Two months later, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi stipulated rules governing related names and definitions and the range of activities of such doctors.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention incorporates Eastern medical practices like acupuncture, herbal medicine, qigong and Ayurveda into the system of traditional, complementary and integrative medicines (TCIM). Along with traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda of India, traditional Korean medicine is the third of its kind from Asia for the UAE to recognize as an independent discipline.

A study by market research company Grand View Research quoted by the ministry estimated the UAE's TCIM market at USD 2.78 billion as of last year, with growth expected to average 25.59% per year through 2030.

The minstry at the International Symposium on Traditional Medicine in Seoul from Sept. 9-10 discussed with the Abu Dhabi department cooperation in the advancement of traditional Korean medicine in the UAE. Both sides agreed to jointly promote the development of traditional medicine in the Middle East.

"The UAE's recognition of doctors of traditional Korean medicine is a case symbolizing global trust in our traditional medicine," the ministry said in a statement. "We will keep actively supporting the global spread of our traditional medicine through cooperation with regional partners in the Middle East including the UAE."

caudouin@korea.kr