WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2002-2005: Chapter Five: Strategy and plan of action 2002 - 2005: 5.4 Rational use: Promote therapeutically sound use of appropriate TM/CAM by providers and consumers

WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2002-2005
(2002; 70 pages) [French] [Spanish]

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgements
	Acronyms, abbreviations and WHO Regions
	Key points: WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002 - 2005
		What is traditional medicine?
		Widespread and growing use
		Why such broad use?
		Uncritical enthusiasm versus uninformed scepticism
		Challenges in developing TM/CAM potential
		The current role of WHO
		Framework for action
		Strategy implementation
	Chapter One: Global review
		1.1 What is traditional medicine? Towards a working definition
		1.2 Broad use and appeal
		1.3 Expenditure
		1.4 Accounting for use and increasing interest
		1.5 Responding to the popularity of TM/CAM
	Chapter Two: Challenges
		2.1 What needs to be done?
		2.2 National policies and legal framework
		2.3 Safety, efficacy, quality
		2.4 Access
		2.5 Rational use
	Chapter Three: The current role of WHO
		3.1 Developing TM/CAM and integrating it into national health care systems
		3.2 Ensuring appropriate, safe and effective use of traditional medicine
		3.3 Increasing access to TM/CAM information
	Chapter Four: International and national resources for traditional medicine
		4.1 UN Agencies
		4.2 International organizations
		4.3 Nongovernmental organizations
		4.4 Global professional associations
		4.5 International and national professional associations
		4.6 Specific initiatives
	Chapter Five: Strategy and plan of action 2002 - 2005
		5.1 Policy: Integrate TM/CAM with national health care systems, as appropriate, by developing and implementing national TM/CAM policies and programmes
		5.2 Safety, efficacy and quality: Promote the safety, efficacy and quality of TM/CAM by expanding the knowledge-base on TM/CAM, and by providing guidance on regulatory and quality assurance standards
		5.3 Access: Increase the availability and affordability of TM/CAM, as appropriate, with an emphasis on access for poor populations
		5.4 Rational use: Promote therapeutically sound use of appropriate TM/CAM by providers and consumers
	Annex One: List of WHO Collaborating Centres for Traditional Medicine
	Annex Two: Selected WHO publications and documents on traditional medicine
		National policy and monitoring
		Quality, safety and efficacy
		Rational use
		WHO Collaborating Centres for Traditional Medicine
	References
	Back Cover

5.4 Rational use: Promote therapeutically sound use of appropriate TM/CAM by providers and consumers

Components

• Proper use of TM/CAM by providers. Increase capacity of TM/CAM providers to make proper use of TM/CAM products and therapies.

• Proper use of TM/CAM by consumers. Increase capacity of consumers to make informed decisions about use of TM/CAM products and therapies.

"... we must broaden the knowledge base of CAM and conventional health care practitioners to encompass the full repertoire of safe and effective health care practices - truly expanding the horizons of health care. These practices can then be integrated into optimal interdisciplinary treatment plans developed in cooperation with patients. These imperatives dictate serious efforts in research, training, education and communication..."⁴⁵

WHO strategy

WHO will encourage countries to organize training programmes for allopathic practitioners to enable them to acquire basic knowledge of TM/CAM and to promote licensed practice of therapies.

WHO will continue to develop authoritative references for Member States, such as the WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants. It will also develop information and education materials (including translations) and a TM/CAM web-site to raise awareness of the need for rational use of TM/CAM, and to guide the public in their safe use.

Critical indicators

Strategy objective	Number of WHO Member States with national research institute^l for TM/CAM/Total number of WHO Member States	1999 status	2005 target
WHO Member States with national research institute for TM/CAM	19/191	10%	18%

^l A national research institute is here defined as a government-supported national research institute.

Expected outcomes for 2002 - 2005

• Basic training in commonly used TM/CAM therapies for allopathic practitioners.

• Basic training in primary health care for TM practitioners.

• Reliable information for consumers on proper use of TM/CAM therapies.

• Improved communication between allopathic practitioners and their patients concerning use of TM/CAM.