Collaborating with WHO Collaborating Centres (WHOCCs), Non-State Actors (NSAs), and global networks such as the International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH). These partnerships facilitate knowledge-sharing, promote best practices, and enhance the regulation and integration of traditional medicine products and practices into healthcare systems.
International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH)
The network of national and regional/sub-regional regulatory authorities responsible for the regulation of herbal medicines (IRCH) was established in 2006. The terms of reference (ToR) of IRCH was adopted at the first annual meeting of (2006). At the fifth annual meeting of IRCH (2011), the original ToR (2006) was reviewed, and the revised ToR of IRCH (2011) was adopted. Furthermore, the seventh annual meeting of IRCH (2014) reviewed the revised ToR (2011) and adopted the updated ToR of IRCH (2014). Following agreement by the IRCH members and a review of the ToR (2016-2017), the International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) was formalised as a WHO network in 2018.
The mission of the WHO IRCH is to collaborate and share the best practices to help WHO in its recommendations to the members on improving the regulation of herbal medicines as well as raise awareness regarding their safe use in health and wellbeing.
Non-State Actors
WHO is the United Nations specialized agency on international public health, acting as the directing and coordinating authority on these matters. In order to fulfil its constitutional mandate of ensuring the highest attainable level of health for all people, WHO engages with different stakeholders including Member States, intergovernmental organizations, as well as non-State actors i.e. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private sector entities, philanthropic foundations and academic institutions.
The aims and activities of such entities are envisaged to be in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of WHO’s Constitution, and they are expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of public health. “Official relations” is a privilege that the Executive Board may grant to nongovernmental organizations, international business associations and philanthropic foundations that have had and continue to have a sustained and systematic engagement in the interest of the Organization. Non-State actors in official relations are invited to participate in sessions of WHO’s governing bodies.
WHO’s engagements with non-State actors, at global, regional and country levels, support the implementation of the Organization’s policies and recommendations, as well as the application of WHO’s technical norms and standards. Such engagements are governed by the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2016 (Resolution WHA69.10).
As on date, the following six entities have been designated by the WHO Executive Board to be non-state actors in official relations with the TCI unit:
- Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA), USA
- World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), China
- World Federation of Chinese Medicines Societies (WFCMS), China
- World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), Canada
- World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy (FEMTEC), Italy
- Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF), Switzerland
WHO Collaborating Centres for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine
WHO collaborating centres are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the Director-General to carry out activities in support of the Organization's programmes. Currently there are over 800 WHO Collaborating centres in over 80 Member States working with WHO.
As of today, the TCI unit works with a globally expanding network of 25 WHO Collaborating Centres for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine for furtherance of its goals.