Integrating traditional medicine into national health systems
Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is already widely practised and relied upon by a significant proportion of the population in many countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region. In some countries, T&CM represents a significant part of the health sector’s economy. WHO plays an important role in supporting Member States to integrate T&CM into national health systems, while ensuring safety, quality and effectiveness of T&CM products and services.
The Regional Framework for Harnessing Traditional and Complementary Medicine for Achieving Health and Well-being in the Western Pacific suggests ways in which T&CM can potentially play a larger role in all countries and areas in improving health and well-being, preventing diseases and managing long-term chronic conditions at the primary health-care level. The Framework articulates the contribution of T&CM for achieving the vision set out in For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region – particularly in the areas of NCDs and ageing, and reaching the unreached – while contributing to building the resilience of populations to cope with the impact of health emergencies and climate change.
The Framework aims:
- to affirm the importance and contribution of T&CM to the achievement of broader health goals, such as universal health coverage and health and well-being;
- guide countries to address the challenges of tomorrow by acting today, by outlining key strategic directions and a development pathway that countries may pursue in order to maximize possible contributions of T&CM to health and well-being;
- guide countries in the Western Pacific Region to identify and focus efforts on priority areas for T&CM;
- outline areas of collaboration and WHO support to countries in T&CM over the next 10 years.
