{"id":232788,"date":"2025-06-03T14:19:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpatientsalliance.org\/?post_type=news&p=232788"},"modified":"2025-12-31T14:54:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T14:54:43","slug":"wpa-welcomes-whos-new-global-strategy-on-traditional-medicine-with-a-call-for-patient-centered-integration","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/news\/wpa-welcomes-whos-new-global-strategy-on-traditional-medicine-with-a-call-for-patient-centered-integration\/","title":{"rendered":"WPA Welcomes WHO\u2019s New Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine with a Call for Patient-Centered Integration"},"content":{"rendered":"

WPA Welcomes WHO\u2019s New Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine with a Call for Patient-Centered Integration<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WPA welcomes the adoption of the\u202fnew WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025\u20132034\u202fby Member States at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly 2025 (WHA78), and commends its emphasis on safety, regulation, evidence, and equity.<\/p>\n

The new strategy marks a critical step forward in advancing the role of\u202fTraditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM)\u202fwithin global health systems, aiming to improve access, quality, and culturally relevant care. Importantly, it recognizes the\u202frights of Indigenous peoples, promotes\u202fbiodiversity conservation, and supports\u202fenvironmental sustainability\u202fin the context of TCIM practices.<\/p>\n

Patient Voice Must Guide the Integration of Traditional Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n

While welcoming the move to build a more evidence-based and regulated approach to traditional medicine, WPA emphasizes that\u202fpatients must be at the center of its implementation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMillions of patients around the world rely on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine for their primary care,\u201d said Hussain Jafri, CEO WPA. \u201cThis new strategy must be implemented with a commitment to patient rights, safety, and informed choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

As WHO supports countries in integrating TCIM into health systems,\u202fpatient engagement must be a foundational pillar, ensuring that services are accessible, understandable, and safe, and that patients are fully informed about treatment options, risks, and outcomes.<\/p>\n

Ensuring Safety, Equity, and Access<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WPA particularly welcomes the strategy\u2019s focus on:<\/p>\n

Strengthening the evidence base\u202ffor traditional practices to ensure safety and efficacy;<\/p>\n

Developing regulatory frameworks\u202fthat protect patients and uphold professional standards;<\/p>\n

Integrating qualified TCIM practitioners\u202fwithin health systems, where appropriate;<\/p>\n

Supporting national implementation\u202fand cross-sector collaboration through technical assistance.<\/p>\n

However, WPA cautions that integration must not come at the cost of\u202fweaker regulation, health misinformation, or unequal access. Clear protocols must be established to monitor quality and protect patients from unsafe or unverified treatments.<\/p>\n

A Role for Civil Society and Patient Organizations<\/strong><\/p>\n

WPA urges WHO and Member States to ensure that\u202fcivil society and patient organizations are meaningfully involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Strategy at all levels. Patients must be empowered to make informed decisions, understand their options, and be confident in the safety and effectiveness of the care they receive whether through modern or traditional approaches.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2025\u20132034 strategy reflects a growing global demand for\u202fpluralistic and culturally appropriate health care systems. The WPA believes that a balanced, science-informed approach that also honors cultural heritage and patient preferences is essential to achieving\u202funiversal health coverage (UHC)\u202fand the\u202fSustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n

As the WHO begins implementation of the Strategy, WPA stands ready to collaborate in ensuring that\u202fpatient safety, dignity, and autonomy remain at the forefront of traditional medicine integration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WPA Welcomes WHO\u2019s New Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine with a Call for Patient-Centered Integration The WPA welcomes the adoption of the\u202fnew WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025\u20132034\u202fby Member States […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":232789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"news-category":[15],"class_list":["post-232788","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-category-wpa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/232788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232788"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/232788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":234438,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/232788\/revisions\/234438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/232789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=232788"},{"taxonomy":"news-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldpatientsalliance.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-category?post=232788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}