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.
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