Civil society dialogues with the director of the WHO, on traditional, complementary and integrative medicines-TCIM
On July 3, 2023, in the framework of Dialogues with civil society, the Director General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and a group of senior WHO officials authorized themselves with representatives of different associations, meeting in the “TCIH Coalition”, to discuss priorities in traditional, complementary and integrative medicines, in the run up to the WHO World Summit on Traditional Medicine on 17-18 August 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. The director of the WHO, Dr. Tedros, recognized the work that the signatories of the TCIH Declaration have been doing and invited them to work together with the organization to achieve a strategy that allows the population to have access to and harm traditional, complementary medicines and MTCI integrators.
The director of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recognized the work that the signatories of the TCIH Declaration have been doing and invited them to work together with the organization to achieve a strategy that allows the population to have access to and benefit from medicines. traditional, complementary and integrative TCIM.
“On our side we are committed and we also see an opportunity in you, because you are very well organized and you can help us move this agenda,” the Director told those attending a meeting, held virtually on July 3, between the WHO and representatives of organizations dedicated to promoting this type of medicine.
In the dialogue, representatives of countries such as France, Thailand, Cuba, Cape Verde, Bulgaria, India, Brazil, Bolivia, Portugal and Colombia, among others, explained the work that is being done regarding the practice of TCIM and its implementation and they emphasized that many patients seek them and that is why it is important to offer them care with a more scientific scope, as promoted by the TCIH (People’s Declaration for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare).
From the TCIM Network of the Americas, which brings together 17 countries, emphasis was placed on the importance of more research on TCIM, but also on using research results and translating knowledge to facilitate decision-making in all levels. “We agree that we must continue the dialogue on how to articulate TCIM in the health systems and services of all countries, taking advantage of its contributions to achieve universal health coverage, health promotion, health equity, etc. .”, said Natalia Sofía Aldana.
Thus, Dr. Adhanom invited the different organizations to articulate with the WHO at the World Summit of Traditional Medicine next August in India and also to participate in the Civil Society Commission, the new space of the Organization that includes active citizenship.
“I am happy to tell you that much of what you said will be taken seriously. Almost everything that was said makes sense to me and will be formalized and incorporated into our strategy,” concluded the WHO director.
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