What is Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH)

TCIH refers to the respectful collaboration between various healthcare approaches, their health professionals and experts to offer a person-centred and holistic approach to healthcare.

It focuses on the whole person, is participative, respects individual choices and cultural diversity and integrates clinical experience and patient values with the best available research information.

TCIH modalities include Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, anthroposophic medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, medical hypnosis, mind-body medicine, naturopathic or traditional European medicine, and Reiki therapy.

The draft WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034

WHO has drafted and extensively consulted with Member States about a new Global Traditional Medicine Strategy scheduled for adoption by the 156th WHO Executive Board Meeting and the 78th World Health Assembly in 2025.

"The draft strategy aims to maximise the contribution of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for the benefit of all [...]."

The four strategic objectives of the draft strategy focus on:

1) the cross-sector value of TCIM;
2) research and evidence;
3) appropriate regulation of health products, practices and practitioners;
4) integration of TCIM into health systems.

TCIH situation in Europe

• Widespread use. In total, 25.9% of the European population had used some form of TCIH during the last 12 months. The use of TCIH varied greatly by country, from 10% to almost 40% in Germany1

• Europe is lagging behind on TCIH policies. According to the WHO Global Overview 2019, TCIH is used in 88% of Member States in the European Region, comparable to all other regions. However, when it comes to national policies on TCIH, the European region needs to catch up with other regions, with only 20% of European countries having TCIH integrated into national health policies.

• Successful integration examples. There are many examples of the successful integration of traditional, complementary and conventional medicine in Europe, such as in Baden-Württemberg2 (Germany) and Tuscany3 (Italy).

• Top-level research. Some of the top TCIH research centres are in Europe, including Charité University Berlin and Universities of Freiburg, Tübingen, Heidelberg, Witten/Herdecke (Germany); Universities of Bern, Zurich and Basel (Switzerland); Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine National Centre for Integrative Medicine in Bristol (UK); 114 Clinics in hospitals in Tuscany (Italy); Norway's National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine; University of Pécs (Hungary).

• Large product market. According to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, Europe is the largest market for TCIH medicinal products, with an estimated value of around US$33 billion in 20214.

• Major challenges remain. Health systems in the European region need to be adequately responsive to the population's expectations for TCIH.

  • In some countries, mainstream initiatives and policies misinform about TCIH and actively discourage research, teaching, practice, and access to TCIH.

  • There is almost no public funding for TCIH research in Europe.

  • The uneven availability and reimbursement of TCIH practitioners and medicinal products obstruct patient choice.

1.Kemppainen L.M. Scand J Public Health.2018 Jun;46(4):448-455
2.The land/region of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) sponsors a Competence Network on Integrative Medicine, in which hospitals, outpatient networks and research institutes work together in the development, implementation and evaluation of effective, safe and of high-quality integrative treatments.
3.The Region of Tuscany (Italy) has pursued a progressive integration of TCIH in its public health care system over the past 25 years. A regional law was passed in 2007, which then became in 2013 the basis for the national Law that defines the terms and requirements for TCIH training and practice. Now in Tuscany there are 84 public clinics practising TCIH, 4 Centres of reference and 1 integrative medicine hospital in Pitigliano, Grosseto.
4.https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/natural-ingredients-health-products/what- demand

Recommendations to Member states:

EUROCAM recommends that countries endorse and implement the draft
WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2025-2034. In addition, countries should:

• Recognise the essential contribution of TCIH to health and well-being, including achieving UHC, SDGs and planetary health.

• Invest in TCIH research:

  •  Fund high-quality TCIH research

  • Promote inclusive and multi-disciplinary research methods to study complex, holistic and individualised interventions

• Accelerate the integration into public health systems to achieve health and well-being:

  • Include TCIH in national health policies

  • Provide patient choice in healthcare decisions and ensure reimbursement and equitable access to safe and effective TCIH

  • Maximise the use of TCIH approaches in prevention and disease management

• Provide recognition and appropriate regulation of TCIH products, practices and practitioners to ensure quality, safety, effectiveness and access.

About EUROCAM:

EUROCAM represents healthcare professionals and patients in the field of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) in Europe.

EUROCAM members include organisations representing acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Anthroposophic Medicine, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathic Medicine, Naturopathic or Traditional European Medicine, and Reiki. The practice of TCIH modalities is based on clinical expertise, the best available clinical evidence from scientific research built over the last few decades, and centuries of traditional use.

EUROCAM is an accredited non-state actor to the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
It is the leading TCIH sector representative in the EU, running the secretariat of the MEP Interest Group, which supports TCIH, engaging with the European Commission's Directorate-General on Health and Food Safety and other relevant EU Institutions, as well as other civil society organisations.

EUROCAM is also a founding member of the TCIH Coalition, a global alliance of TCIH healthcare practitioners, patients, researchers, and educators.

For more information: www.cam-europe.eu | secretariat@cam-europe.eu; communication@cam-europe.eu