An interview with Prof. Michael Merson, Director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University(4)

2007-12-17 14:13:46 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

During China’s experience with SARS, we witnessed an unprecedented, concerted global response to a disease, proving that international collaboration can successfully control emerging public health threats. I hope that all countries will engage in international cooperation to allow for a quick response to public health emergencies. To do otherwise risks danger to all of us.

Zong: There have been long arguments on the validity of Chinese traditional medicine. Prof. Merson, are you a fan of traditional Chinese medicine or traditional Chinese therapy? How do you compare them with western ones?

Merson: I see room for both allopathic and traditional medicine as long as our medical practices are rooted in scientific method and evidence-based. The field of Alternative Medicine has in fact grown in many medical institutions. For example, centuries ago, the Chinese identified a traditional remedy called qinghaosu, an herb that was only recently studied through extractions and further refinements and was discovered to have therapeutic applications in the treatment of cerebral and drug-resistant malaria. It now goes by the Western name “artemisinin”. Such a success story demonstrates how a natural, plant-derived product used in traditional medicine can indeed have an important place in modern medicine.

Most importantly, when deciding what is best for a patient, it is always necessary to consider the fulfillment of the individual’s physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. In many cases around the world, traditional medicine may serve such needs so long as it is safe, effective, and affordable.

Zong: Beijing Olympic is coming soon. When thousands of people flock into Beijing City, do you think this will bring any health challenge? Do you think Beijing is ready for that?

Merson: The Olympics can pose a range of health hazards for a number of reasons: the large number of visitors from many countries can cause overcrowding, which can increase the risk of disease transmission; the potential for poor food hygiene at mass gathering restaurant sites; the possibility of an overwhelmed, overburdened healthcare system; and the threat of terrorism. To confront these requires a strong epidemiological surveillance system, training of those running food establishments, a prepared response to mass causalities, disaster, or terrorism, adequate law enforcement and security systems, years of planning to prepare for the challenge, and adequate funding for these activities.

I am sure that Beijing will be ready for the challenge and will safely and successfully host this major athletic event for the international community.

Zong: Duke Global Health Institute has been launched last year. What’s DGHI’s ambition in China? Especially on the policy and education level?

Merson: The Duke Global Health Institute plans to work with Chinese academic and research institutions to find creative solutions to major health challenges and to help change future global health leaders in many sectors. We will do this by building on the many projects and exchange programs that Duke already has underway in China in such areas as health services administration, cardiology, aging, and legal studies. I am hoping that some universities in China will establish their own multidisciplinary global health centers or institutes which have the same mandates as the Duke institute, namely education, research, policy and service. This will open up many avenues for our collaboration on an international level.

Zong: I am sure the collaboration would be a two-way street. What will Duke learn from China?

Merson: I have no doubt we can learn from each other, especially since many of China’s health trends and priorities are the same as those we face in the United States. I am thinking, for example, of the challenge of reducing obesity and the growing burden of chronic diseases, of providing health care to the uninsured and of meeting the threats posed by emerging pathogens like avian flu.
Zong: Any closing thoughts to our Chinese readers?

Merson: I have many friends and colleagues in China and look forward to working closely with them in jointly working together to improve the health of the Chinese and United States populations.

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