Implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023

Implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023


Leadership

1. WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014 - 2023 goals are to support Member States in:
  • Harnessing the potential contribution of T&CM to health, wellness, people-centred health care and UHC;
  • Promoting safe and effective use of T&CM through the regulation, research and integration of T&CM products, practices and practitioners into the health system, as appropriate.
2. Integration of T&CM in national health systems:
  • Support Member States in their efforts;
  • Review and assess the existing models of integration in Member States to record and recommend best practice.
3. Networking
  • International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH)WHO Collaborating Centres, WHO Expert  Advisory Panel, NGOs.

Research and knowledge

  • Clinical evidence database;
  • T&CM Knowledge Platform.
Standards, norms and technical documents

1. Development of technical documents:
  • Global guidelines on quality and safety of herbal medicines;
  • “Key technical issues for the safe use of herbal medicines  with reference to interaction with other medicines”;
  • Methodology for clinical study in traditional medicine (TM).
2. International Terminology and Classification of Traditional & Complementary Medicine (T&CM)
3. Development of a series of Benchmarks for Practice in T&CM
  • Currently developing Benchmarks for Practice in Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Panchkarma, Tuina, Unani.

Ethical and evidence-based policy

  • Country support in the implementation of the WHO TM Strategy 2014 - 2023.
Building institutional capacity

1. Interregional training workshops for capacity building of government officials:
  • Series of workshops in Macao SAR, China.
2. Development of capacity building tools:
  • Benchmarks for Training in T&CM, such as: Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Nuad Thai, Osteopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tuina, Unani;
  • Currently developing Benchmarks for Training in Anthroposophic Medicine, Cupping, Tibetan Medicine, Yoga.
Monitoring and assessing
  • Monitoring implementation of WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014 - 2023;
  • Conduct regular global surveys for building a database as repository of Member States situation and assessing the global trends of T&CM;
  • TCI indicators in the Global Reference List of Core Health Indicators:
    - T&CM outpatient service utilization;
    - Pain management with T&CM.