The Pragmatic Association of Southeast Asian Nations Approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine Education in Indonesia: A Case Review.

Abstract

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice has been thriving for centuries throughout the world, but its educational system has not been standardized in many countries outside of China. The aim of this article is To share experiences in planning and executing TCM education adapted to Indonesian culture and conditions. TCM practice has thrived since centuries ago in Indonesia due to TCM's empirically proven effectiveness for maintaining health and wellness. However, formal bachelor's-degree education in TCM has just begun about a decade ago. The learning outcomes of TCM bachelor's-degree education in Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at large differs from those of China mainly because of the nearly total integration of Western medicine modalities in China. The learning strategy of TCM education in Indonesia with a pragmatic acculturation approach has been effective for improving TCM acceptance, and has been beneficial in upgrading the social and academic status of Indonesian traditional health care based on ASEAN TCM standards.