Las casas

Briefing 1: Traditional Medicine

1. What is the WHO’s current stance on traditional and complementary medicine, and how does it relate to other arguments within the larger debate on the issue? (150 words maximum).

Quelle est la position actuelle de l'OMS sur la médecine traditionnelle et complémentaire, et comment cela se rapporte-t-elle à d'autres arguments dans le débat plus large sur la question ? (150 mots maximum)

To date the WHO’s strategy on traditional and complementary medicine is to support Member states in developing policies to strengthen T&CM since this medicine is widely growing up and help people being healthy. The WHO’s strategy has been updated from 2002 to 2005 in order to make the knowledges of traditional medicine preserved, promoted and largely communicated worldwide. This strategy has been inspired by the Chinese policies as this is the reference country for T&CM. Main objectives are to develop regulations for T&CM products, practices and practitioners in order to integrate T&CM into health care services and self-health care. At least, the communication between conventional and traditional medicines should be strengthened for a better efficiency of health professionals, medical students and scientists.

135 words

1. The WHO has set out to address questions of the “safety, efficacy, quality, availability, preservation, and further development” of traditional medicine. With your assigned member state and its specific circumstances and position on T&CM in mind, how would you propose to achieve these stated goals? (150 words maximum)

l'OMS s'est penchée sur les questions suivantes : « sécurité, efficacité, qualité, disponibilité, préservation et développement ultérieur » de la médecine traditionnelle. Avec votre État membre assigné et ses circonstances spécifiques et sa position sur T&cm à l'esprit, Comment proposez-vous d'atteindre ces objectifs énoncés ? (150 mots maximum)

Argentina has current policies for T&CM. For safety, Traditional Medicine is regulated by law* Only professionally qualified doctors who have been graduated from certified medical schools can legally practice homeopathy. In November 1997, the Chamber of Deputies regulated the prescriptions of homeopathic medications. In Argentina, around 3000 physicians and 500 pharmacists practice homeopathic medicine. They have been officially authorized.

With regards to efficacy and quality, a survey performed in ???? showed that 80% of patients who tested acupuncture are satisfied.

Any benefits related to Traditional Medicine have to be certified according to defined criteria.

Traditional Medicine is closer to rural population than hospitals and less expensive. This is more culturally trustable.

To date there are 7 homeopathic schools and many professional organizations.

Improvements and development would be additional schools and infrastructures but also a new national health program involving T&CM more deeply.

* article 75-15 of the Constitution, Ley 23,302, Decreto 1269-96 and Resolution 83-12

148 words

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