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TRADITIONAL MEDICINES: GLOBAL SITUATION, ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
 
THE WORLD MEDICINESSITUATION 2011
TRADITIONAL MEDICINES:GLOBAL SITUATION, ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
 Molly Meri Robinson
Classifcations, Terminology and Standards, WHO, Geneva
 Xiaorui Zhang
Traditional Medicines, WHO, Geneva
GENEVA 2011
 WHO/EMP/MIE/2011.2.3
 
TheWorldMedicinesSituation2011
3rd Edition
This document has been produced with the nancial assistance o the Department orInternational Development (DFID), UK and the government o the Netherlands. The viewsexpressed herein are those o the authors and can thereore in no way be taken to refectthe ocial opinion o the Department or International Development (DFID), UK or thegovernment o the Netherlands.
 For additional inormation please contact
edmdoccentre@who.int
© World Health Organization 2011
All rights reserved. Publications o the World Health Organization can be obtained romWHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland(tel.: +41 22 791 3264; ax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: bookorders@who.int). Requests orpermission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether or sale or or noncom-mercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (ax: +41 22791 4806; e-mail: permissions@who.int).The designations employed and the presentation o the material in this publication do notimply the expression o any opinion whatsoever on the part o the World Health Organiza-tion concerning the legal status o any country, territory, city or area or o its authorities, orconcerning the delimitation o its rontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps representapproximate border lines or which there may not yet be ull agreement.The mention o specic companies or o certain manuacturers’ products does not implythat they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preerence toothers o a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the nameso proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to veriythe inormation contained in this publication. However, the published material is beingdistributed without warranty o any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility orthe interpretation and use o the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the WorldHealth Organization be liable or damages arising rom its use.The named authors alone are responsible or the views expressed in this publication.
 
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TRADITIONAL MEDICINES: GLOBAL SITUATION, ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
SUMMARY 
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Traditional medicines, including herbal medicines, have been, and continue to be,used in every country around the world in some capacity. In much of the developingworld, 70–95% of the population rely on these traditional medicines for primary care.
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The global market for traditional medicines was estimated at US$ 83 billion annually in2008, with a rate of increase that has been exponential.
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Regulatory status and the associated terminology varies widely. Traditional medicinesare used as prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, as self-medicationor self-care, as home remedies, or as dietary supplements, health foods, functionalfoods, phytoprotectants, and under any of many other titles in different jurisdictions,with only minimal consistency between the denitions of these terms from country tocountry and signicant communication issues as a result.
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To control quality and to ensure safety and efcacy in production of traditionalmedicines is difcult. WHO, in cooperation with the WHO Regional Ofces andMember States, has produced a series of technical documents in this eld, includingpublications on Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) and GoodManufacturing Practices (GMP), along with other technical support, to assist withstandardization and creation of high quality products.
n
Regulation of traditional medicines is a complicated and challenging issue as it ishighly dependent upon experience with use of these products. Model countries suchas China, India, and South Africa present usable templates, as do the guidelines onregulation and registration of traditional or herbal medicines produced in the WHO African, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asian regions and in the EuropeanUnion.
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Evaluation of quality, safety and efcacy based on research is needed to improveapproaches to assessment of traditional medicines, a situation made difcult toremedy in light of historically inadequate public and private funding to address thisgrowing concern.
n
World Health Assembly resolution 62.13, passed in May 2009 by the WHO Member States urges national governments to respect, preserve and widely communicatetraditional medicine knowledge while formulating national policies and regulations topromote appropriate, safe, and effective use; to further develop traditional medicinebased on research and innovation, and to consider the inclusion of traditionalmedicine into their national health systems. WHA 62.13 also urges Member Statesto cooperate with each other and to share knowledge while working to strengthencommunication between conventional and traditional practitioners.
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