Integration of Traditional Medicine into Primary Health Care in Developing Countries

Abstract

Traditional medicine is the ancient and culture-bound medical practice which existed before the application of modern science to health. In many cases traditional medicine provides first-line health care to people living in remote or inaccessible areas. One of the human resources we have to pay attention is practitioners of traditional medicine, who have looked after the health of their communities for generations, and will continue to do so in the future. In the majority of developing countries practitioners of traditional medicine represent a vital and relatively untapped sources of health care manpower, which can be sensitively utilized in national efforts to meet the basic health needs of the population. In developing countries practitioners of traditional medicine must be trained on primary health care, and they should be utilized as first-line health care providers for the community where they live and serve.