To strengthen the role of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative medicine (TCI), WHO conducted its first interregional online training workshop on ensuring the quality of TCI products. The workshop was focused on ensuring quality of TCI products from patient safety perspective, through policy and regulation, and through research. The workshop, attended by 20 Member States (out of which around 50% were from the African region), commenced on Wednesday, 14th of October 2020 at 12:00noon CEST. The Eritrea Ministry of Health which was represented by Ms. Lemlem Hussien and Ms. Leah Abraham, Traditional Medicine Unit (TMU) officers of the National Medicines and Food Administration (NMFA).
The inaugural address was given by Dr. Zhang Qi, WHO Secretariat, where he explained the major purpose of the workshop and assured WHO's assistance on implementing the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023. Welcoming address was given by Dr. Choi Peng Cheong, Health Bureau, Government of Macao SAR, China; an introduction session by Dr. Aditi Bana, WHO Secretariat, followed by overview of current global situation of TM. Brief updates on regional perspective from AFRO and South-East Asia were given by Dr. Ossy Kasilo and Dr. Sungchol Kim, respective WHO secretariats. The introductory session was followed by a topic on ensuring quality of TCI products from patient safety perspective which highlighted quality assurance from patient perspective as well as requirements for a proper/safe use of a TCI products. Afterwards, country experiences from Ethiopia and Macao China were presented, outlining their working strategies and major challenges.
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