Overview
Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.
Herbal treatments are the most popular form of traditional medicine and 70% to 80% of the Region has used a form as primary health care.
One third of the population lacks access to essential medicines and the provision of safe and effective traditional and alternative remedies could become an important way of increasing access to health care services.
Tried and tested methods and products:
Acupuncture has been proven effective in relieving a variety of pain disorders, high blood pressure, depression and morning sickness. It can also alleviate postoperative pain and adverse reactions to chemotherapy.
The Chinese herb Artemisia annua has been found to be effective against resistant malaria and could create a breakthrough in preventing almost 1 million deaths annually.
In South Africa, the plant Sutherlandia microphylla is being studied for use in HIV patients. The plant may increase energy, appetite and body mass in people living with HIV.
Traditional medicine is often termed alternative or complementary medicine in many countries.
Traditional medicine: Traditional medicine has a long history. It is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.
Complementary medicine: The terms “complementary medicine” or “alternative medicine” refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant health-care system. They are used interchangeably with traditional medicine in some countries.
Integrative Medicine: It is used interchangeably for “traditional medicine” in some countries, refers to a broad set of health care knowledge, skills and practices that may play a supportive role in conjunction with biomedical care.
Herbal medicines: Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations.
The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 was developed and launched in response to the World Health Assembly resolution on traditional medicine (WHA62.13). The strategy aims to support Member States in developing proactive policies and implementing action plans that will strengthen the role traditional medicine plays in keeping populations healthy.
Addressing the challenges, responding to the needs identified by Member States and building on the work done under the WHO traditional medicine strategy: 2002–2005, the updated strategy for the period 2014–2023 devotes more attention than its predecessor to prioritizing health services and systems, including traditional and complementary medicine products, practices and practitioners.
The strategic objectives are:
- To build the knowledge base for active management of T&CM through appropriate national policies.
- To strengthen the quality assurance, safety, proper use and effectiveness of T&CM by regulating products, practices and practitioners.
- To promote universal health coverage by integrating T&CM services into health care service delivery and self-health care.
The WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019 was developed to address the gap in reliable, credible and official data from Member States in the area of T&CM.
This report reviews global progress in T&CM over the past two decades and is based on contributions from 179 WHO Member States. It provides valuable information for policymakers, health professionals and the public for capitalizing on the potential contribution of T&CM to health and well-being..
WHA76(20) in May 2023: Global strategy on traditional medicine decided to request the Director-General: 1. To extend the WHO traditional medicine strategy, 2014–2023 until 2025; 2. To submit the strategy for consideration by the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in 2025, through the Executive Board at its 156th session.
The new strategy’s vision is : Universal access to safe, effective, people centered and sustainable TCIM throughout the life course. It has 4 strategic objectives: 1: Optimize the cross-sector value of TCIM and empower communities through inclusive approaches -2. Strengthen the evidence base for TCIM - 3. Support provision of quality and safe TCIM through appropriate regulatory mechanisms - 4. Integrate T&CM into health systems to support the achievement of UHC.
WHO AFRO is drafting a Plan of Action for the Third Decade of African Traditional Medicine which objective is is to maximize the contribution of TM to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being of individuals and societies for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa.
Its specific objectives are to:
accelerate the implementation of national traditional medicine policies and support the provision of quality and safe TM through appropriate regulatory mechanisms for TM Products, Practitioners and Practices.
organize large-scale cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants for the promotion and preservation of biodiversity.
protect intellectual property rights and preserve traditional medical knowledge (TMK) and resources for equitable benefit sharing of TMK.
promote Research and Development for Evidence-based TM and improve access to Traditional Medicine Products through enhanced and viable Local Industries, Entrepreneurships, Innovation and Local Production.
integrate Traditional Medicine into Health Systems to contribute to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.
strengthen the capacity of the AU Member States in relevant areas of Traditional Medicine.
enhance efforts for resource mobilization and partnerships for the development of traditional medicine; and
document achievements, best practices, and success stories for sharing with other AU member states.
