The WHO traditional medicine strategy – a way to better medical care

In continuation of earlier approaches, the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014 – 2023 aims to support Member States in developing proactive policies and implementing action plans that will strengthen the role of traditional medicine in their health care system. Herbal medicinal products (HMPs), which have an already large but still increasing relevance in medical care for a growing and ageing world population, are an integral part of it.

In many developing countries this strategy is already followed, and public funding is available for support of educational and research activities in products, practices and practitioners in traditional medicine. However, in a considerable number of industrialized countries, such as Germany, this strategy up to now has been of nearly no concern to national health policy.

For changing this and fostering integration of traditional medicine and especially herbal medicine into the national health care system e.g. in Germany, it is necessary to more vigorously popularize the WHO strategy. This will also result in an improved collaboration of all stakeholders involved in manufacturing, studying, prescribing, recommending and using these products. The reimbursement of HMPs by health insurances, e.g. in Switzerland and various East Asian countries, and the inclusion of a considerable number of HMPs into national medical guidelines e.g. in Germany [1] and, in exceptional cases, even in international guidelines [2], are recent success stories showing that there is more room for improvement.

[1] Klose P, Kraft K, Cramer H, Luche H, Dobos G, Langhorst J. Forsch Komplementärmed 2014;21:388 – 400;

[2] Stanghellini V, Chan F K L, Hasler WL, Malagelada J R, Suzuki H, Tack J, Talley NJ Gastroenterology, 2016; 150: 1380 – 1392