As defined in the survey instrument, a national research institute for TM, CAM or herbal medicines is a research institute that performs research on TM, CAM or herbal medicines, and is funded partially or fully by the government.

Member States were asked if they had research institutes on traditional medicine, complementary/alternative medicine and herbal medicines. They were also asked for the year of establishment of each research institute.

Results for this section were decidedly mixed. In all, 58 Member States indicated that they had at least one national institute on TM, CAM or herbal medicines. Only seven countries had all three types of research institute, and 28 countries had two kinds of institute.

The survey results further indicate that 27% (38) of responding Member States have a research institute on TM and 33% (46 countries) had one on herbal medicines, but only 6% (9 countries) had a research institute on CAM.

Data on the date of establishment of national research institutes on TM, CAM or herbal medicines were also requested. Forty three countries supplied the dates of establishment, showing consistent growth in the establishment of these institutes (Figure 11).

Figure 11. Number of Member States with a national research institute on TM, CAM or herbal medicines, by year