A summit on traditional medicine to « integrate it into health systems ».

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Extract from the article: On August 17 and 18, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) organized the first high-level global summit on traditional medicine in Gandhinagar, India. The two-day summit assessed non-Western medical and healthcare practices, and looked at ways to

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On August 17 and 18, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) organized the first high-level global summit on traditional medicine in Gandhinagar, India. The two-day summit assessed non-Western medical and healthcare practices, and looked at ways to accelerate health for all.

The initiative aims to examine the knowledge base and opportunities for accelerating health for all. In particular, it will provide a framework for examining the role of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in addressing urgent health challenges and fostering advances in global health and sustainable development.

"Traditional medicine can play an important and catalytic role in achieving the goal of universal health coverage and global health-related targets that were lagging even before the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

"Integrating traditional medicine into health care (appropriately, effectively and, above all, safely and on the basis of the latest scientific evidence) can help close the access gap for millions of people around the world," he felt.

WHO explains that in a context where the use of traditional medicine is growing worldwide, the safety, efficacy and quality control of traditional products and procedure-based therapies remain key priorities for health authorities and the public.The meeting was attended by high-level participants, including the WHO Director-General and Regional Directors, G20 Health Ministers and high-level guests from countries in the six WHO Regions.Scientists, traditional medicine practitioners, health workers and members of civil society organizations also took part.  This is the first in a series of WHO Global Summits on Traditional Medicine, to be held every two years in different WHO Regions.

The importance of traditional medicineAccording to the WHO, the term "traditional medicine" describes the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices that indigenous and other cultures have used over time to preserve health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness. Traditional medicine encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures, as well as modern medicines.

Today, traditional medicine has become a global phenomenon, with ever-increasing demand, and patients wishing to take greater control of their health and well-being, while seeking more compassionate and personalized healthcare.For millions of people, particularly those living in remote and rural areas, traditional medicine remains the first point of contact for health and well-being, offering care that is culturally acceptable, available and affordable, explains the WHO.

The organization estimates that around 80% of the world's population uses traditional medicine. To date, 170 of WHO's 194 Member States report using traditional medicine, and their governments have requested WHO's help in building up a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products. Togo,

Some 40% of authorized pharmaceutical products in use today are derived from natural substances, underlining the vital importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainability.

Elom AKAKPO