- In industrialised nations some traditional therapies, in particular
traditional Chinese medicine, and ayurveda, have become popular,
diffusing out from immigrants into the host community.
Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America use traditional medicine to
help meet some of their primary healthcare needs. In Africa, up to 80% of the
population use traditional medicine for primary healthcare. Over one-third of
the population in developing countries lack access to essential medicines.
Figure 1.1 shows the global distribution of traditional medicine, indicating
which countries have specific policies as to its practice.
The provision of safe and effective traditional medicine therapies could
become a critical tool to increase access to healthcare. In 2004 the South
African Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, suggested that the
use of African traditional medicines may eventually replace antiretrovirals
in the treatment of HIV and AIDS.
In a number of industrialised countries many people regularly use some
form of traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) with
Germany (75%),^5 Canada (70%)^6 and England (47%)^7 being examples.
Definition
The WHO defines TCAM as referring to health practices, approaches,
knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant-, animal- and mineral-based
2|Traditional medicine
Figure 1.1 The global distribution of traditional medicine, indicating which countries have
specific policies as to its practice. (Adapted from WHO Global Atlas of Traditional, Complementary
and Alternative Medicine, Map Volume. Kobe, Japan: WHO Centre for Health Development, 2005: 49.)
No policy or legislationStatus
Legislation pending
Legislation only
National policy
No data