Last May, the 78th World Health Assembly endorsed the 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱-𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟰, which defines integrative medicine as “an interdisciplinary and evidence-based approach to health and well-being by using a combination of biomedical and traditional and/or complementary medical knowledge, skills and practices”.
The new WHO traditional medicine strategy calls on Member States to integrate safe, evidence-based traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) into their health systems.
So, where does the NHS stand on this issue today?
The NHS does not have a single, coherent national strategy for TCIM. Instead, we have a patchwork:
✅ 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Some Integrated Care Boards commission services such as acupuncture for chronic pain, but availability remains a postcode lottery.
✅ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: NICE recommends some TCIM interventions, yet national NHS policy remains largely hands-off or discouraging for most.
✅ 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: A few professions (e.g., chiropractic, osteopathy) are regulated, but this does not guarantee NHS provision.
This approach looks increasingly outdated. The evidence base for TCIM, including acupuncture and certain herbal treatments, is now evolving rapidly, and public demand for integrative, person-centred options is growing.
So our question is this:
𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗛𝗦 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗖𝗜𝗠?
Not to endorse everything, but to develop a rational, evidence-based framework that:
🔹 Identifies what works for specific conditions and what deserves further research
🔹 Supports research to strengthen the evidence base
🔹 Ensures efficacy and safety through clear guidelines, standards and regulation
🔹 Reduces the postcode lottery by enabling informed, consistent local commissioning
The WHO strategy provides a high-level vision. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗹𝗲𝗱 “𝗧𝗖𝗜𝗠 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄” 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗛𝗦 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲?
We are keen to hear the views of colleagues across healthcare, policy, and research.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸? 𝗜𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗛𝗦 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗖𝗜𝗠 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱?
Please share your thoughts by leaving your comments. Alternatively, please email us: info@kingscicm.org
