WHO congress backs traditional medicine for national health plans

Nov 8, 2008, 11:23 GMT

Beijing - A UN-sponsored congress on Saturday urged the integration of traditional medicine into national health care plans, saying patients would benefit from its use alongside modern medicine.

'The knowledge of traditional medicine, treatments and practices should be respected, preserved, promoted and communicated widely and appropriately based on the circumstances in each country,' said a joint declaration issued at the end of the World Health Organization Congress on Traditional Medicine.

The parley drew some 1,100 delegates from more than 70 nations.

'Governments have a responsibility for the health of their people and should formulate national policies, regulations and standards, as part of comprehensive national health systems to ensure appropriate, safe and effective use of traditional medicine,' it said.

The declaration would 'serve to promote the safe and effective use of traditional medicine and to integrate traditional medicine into primary health care systems.

'The integration of traditional medicine into countries' health systems is one of the best ways to assure its appropriate and proper use by people and providers,' Dr Carissa Etienne, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Services said.

'This is a landmark declaration after a landmark congress,' Etienne said, according to a WHO statement.

The WHO noted that traditional medicine was still used for primary health care in many developing countries and was also 'increasingly used in developed countries.'

But it warned that 'regulation and oversight have not necessarily kept pace with the growth in interest in traditional practices and products.'

'Both modern and traditional medicine have their advantages and weakness for health care,' said Dr Zhang Xiaorui, a WHO expert in traditional medicines.

'If national health care systems can include the advantages of both systems, it would benefit both patients and consumers,' Zhang said.