Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 19–20
Internationally, there is an increasing interest in the integration of traditional medicine/CAM into the public health sector. The purpose of this study was to describe an experience to promote the role of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in the public health sector to integrate traditional medicine into the public health system in Korea.
To explore the trends and issues in various ways, this study reviews and analyses existing data and documents related to TKM and health policy using the contents analysis method.
TKM has been used as an important component of national effort to promote the public health of rural and fishery populations in Korea. A community-based health promotion programme using TKM in the public health sector involved stroke prevention education, a smoke free programme, an exercise programme using qi gong, health promotion activities according to the Four Physical Constitution and so on. To improve the quality and outcome of the programme, the Korean government has been developing various policy measures in the public health sector. Finally, this research presented health policy directions (a four-step strategy) for TKM.
To integrate traditional medicine into the health system, it might be useful to promote the role of traditional medicine/CAM in the public health sector. It should be considered as an important means/a strategy to make health policy/health legislations for formulating an institutional basis for the promotion and development of traditional medicine.
