WHO Explores Integration of Traditional Medicine into Mainstream Healthcare Based on Evidence
The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to study and potentially integrate traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) into mainstream healthcare by building an evidence base, establishing regulation, and enabling integration where appropriate.
Earlier this year, a global traditional medicines strategy for the next decade was agreed upon to harness the contribution of TCIM to health and wellbeing based on rigorous evidence. As part of this initiative, a new WHO strategic technical advisory group for traditional medicine was launched at a summit held in New Delhi, India.
Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, director of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, highlighted the significant potential of traditional medicine, which can now be explored using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, genomics, and brain imaging. These advances allow new ways to study practices like meditation using objective health measurements.
In Thailand, the health ministry recommended in May that doctors switch from certain biomedicines to traditional remedies for conditions such as muscle pain and constipation. Researchers there are conducting randomized trials to potentially add herbal treatments to the essential medicines list.
WHO officials emphasize caution against integrating unscientific systems like homeopathy and stress that all decisions should be based on robust evidence. The agency remains open to adapting its stance if new evidence emerges.
In many countries, traditional medicine services are currently outside formal health systems, often paid out-of-pocket with limited quality controls, despite being hugely popular within the trillion-dollar wellness industry.
The overarching goal is to bridge traditional medicine and biomedicine with a focus on patient safety and solid scientific evidence. This approach may also help address healthcare workforce shortages and support universal health coverage worldwide.
