WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine

WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine

Opening Ceremony of the WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine

WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine sponsored by WHO and hosted by the Ministry of Health of China and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China was convened in Beijing from Nov. 7th to 9th, 2008. More than 70 officials from Myanmar, South Africa, Australia, etc. ，about 100 representatives of the nongovernmental organizations, and officials of the Chinese central government and local authorities and experts of various countries attended the congress. The participants numbered 1500. Margaret Chen, WHO’s Director-General delivered a speech on the congress, she said:“The two systems of traditional and Western medicine need not clash. Within the context of primary healthcare, they can blend together in harmony, using the best features of each system. But such harmony would not happen by itself unless government made genuine policy decisions.” “Here in China, herbal therapy of proven utility in many disorders is provided in State hospitals throughout the country, alongside conventional medicine.” The World Health Organization issued a declaration in Beijing on the congress, calling for its member states to integrate traditional medicine into their national health systems. On the congress the Exhibition of Traditional Chinese Medicine opened to public. It displayed all-sidely the history of traditional Chinese medicine and its current role played in the Chinese medical service system.



	Margaret Chen, WHO’s director-general delivering a speech		Mr. Chen Zhu, Health Minister of China delivering a speech