Traditional medicine

 What is traditional medicine?

Traditional medicine refers to codified or non-codified systems for health care and well-being, comprising practices, skills, knowledge and philosophies originating in different historical and cultural contexts, which are distinct from and pre-date biomedicine, evolving with science for current use from an experience-based origin. Traditional medicine emphasizes nature-based remedies and holistic, personalized approaches to restore balance of mind, body and environment.

WHO definitions of traditional, complementary and herbal medicines.

 

How widely is traditional medicine used?

Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is used in 170 countries, according to a 2019 WHO report.

Further insight comes from WHO’s third global survey on TCIM. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents reported 40-99% of their populations using TCIM.

These figures highlight the widespread and variable use of TCIM globally, emphasizing the need for clear definitions and consistent data collection to guide effective policy, regulation, and integration within health systems.

 

Why is WHO working on traditional medicine?

For centuries, traditional, indigenous and ancestral knowledge has been an integral resource for health in households and communities, and it continues to form a significant part of health care in many regions. 170 of WHO’s 194 Member States have reported on the use of herbal medicines, acupuncture, yoga, indigenous therapies and other systems of traditional medicine. Many countries recognize traditional medicine as a valuable source of health care and have taken steps to integrate practices, products, and practitioners into their national systems.

Today, traditional medicine has become a global phenomenon; the demand is growing, with patients seeking greater agency and ownership of their health and well-being and seeking more holistic and personalized health care. For millions, especially those living in remote and rural areas, it continues to be the first choice for health and well-being, offering care that is culturally acceptable, available, and affordable.

Yet less than 1% of global health research funding is currently dedicated to traditional medicine. Lack of investment in research undermines efforts to build a robust evidence base.

WHO’s work on traditional medicine is a response to requests from countries for evidence and data to inform policies and practice, global standards, and regulations to ensure safety, quality, and equitable access.

The 2018 Declaration of Astana on primary health care acknowledges the need to include traditional medicine knowledge and technologies in the delivery of primary health care – a cornerstone of health systems – in pursuit of health for all.

 

How can we ensure patient safety?

In health-care systems, safety outcomes depend on a combination of factors such as practitioner competence, product quality, effective communication, and strong regulatory support. Adverse events, medication errors, or compromised product quality can arise in any field of health care, not because the systems themselves are unsafe, but because safety relies on how care is delivered.

Both traditional medicine and biomedicine have established approaches to promoting safety. When supported by appropriate training, quality assurance, and clear practice frameworks, traditional medicine is usually a safe and trusted source of healing.

As in biomedicine, strengthening patient safety in traditional medicine also involves augmenting the broader health-care environment around it. This may include improving documentation, supporting research, ensuring consistent quality standards, and building regulatory systems that protect both practitioners and patients. By focusing on these enabling factors, traditional medicine can continue to contribute safely and effectively to public health.

 

Source: WHO 

Spotlight on traditional medicine at World Health Summit 2025

 

Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i., WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine speaking during the World Health Summit event

Traditional medicine was a key topic at the World Health Summit for the first time in 2025, with two dedicated sessions included in this prestigious annual event in Berlin, Germany. The first, a panel event on Sunday 12 October, titled “Operationalizing the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: From Global Vision to National Action”, explored how the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 can be translated from vision into practice. The second session was a workshop on “Integrative Medicine in Global Health: Pathways for Implementation”, held on Monday 13 October. Both events raised the profile of traditional medicine within the global health dialogue, with participants emphasizing the vital contribution of inclusive and holistic care in re-imagining people-centred health systems.

Global collaborations to integrate traditional medicine

On 12 October, Abderrazak Bouzouita, Director General of Tunisia’s Ministry of Health, opened the session saying, “The world is calling for more inclusive, preventive and sustainable models of health care. Traditional medicine provides that missing dimension. It brings people, culture and nature back into the heart of the healing process”. In describing Tunisia’s recent advances, including the country’s first national centre for traditional medicine, as well as its preparations for an Africa-China traditional medicine forum in November, he noted that these steps will advance Tunisia from being a user of traditional medicine to a global connector.

Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i. of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, underlined that collaboration is key. She described the upcoming WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, to be held on 17−19 December in New Delhi, India, as a platform where everyone is invited to learn about national and global efforts to integrate traditional medicine into our health-care systems, emphasizing, “We all have a role to play”.

Lessons from country experiences

Dr Anja Thronicke, Senior Medical Affairs Manager (Oncology) at the Research Institute Havelhöhe, Germany, explained that integrative medicine has been used in cancer treatments there for more than 30 years. Dr Havelhöhe’s oncology network is engaged in documenting patient journeys through personalized approaches and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers. Dr Thronicke said the success of integrative therapies relies on patient-centred care, evidence-based research and collaboration.

Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa, Director of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (Health) Lead Programme at the University of the Free State, South Africa, and Co-Chair of the WHO Summit Steering Committee, shared how his department bridges traditional and biomedical sciences. “Communities are our living laboratories”, he said. “We cannot exist without the communities that supply and share their knowledge”.

Dr Nessma El-Nabawy, General Manager of Egypt’s General Administration for Registration of Herbal Products, noted via pre-recorded video that traditional medicine has been regulated in Egypt since 1955, using the same measures as conventional medicine. “However, greater efforts are needed for scientific evidence through clinical trials and standardization to support sustainable integration into the national health system”, she said.

Catalysing collaboration and accelerating implementation

Dr Kuruvilla reminded participants that traditional medicine is “Really something that’s a global good for each and every one of us … not something in the past”. She highlighted that emerging findings from a WHO research priority-setting exercise show that only 1% of global health research funding is currently going to traditional medicine, despite high demand for evidence and prioritization by Member States. “This is a gap that needs to be bridged,” she said.

In conclusion, Dr Nicole Redvers, Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at Western University, Canada, added her perspective via pre-recorded video: “Traditional Indigenous medicine is evidence-informed through thousands of years of knowledge-gathering and experience, and is tied to spiritual and cultural processes that really teach us about ourselves and our relationship to everything around us”.

Reflecting on the discussion, panel moderator Dr Hiba Boujnah, Head of International Cooperation & Partnerships, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, noted:

“Traditional medicine is about being in harmony with everything that’s around us”. She concluded: “We must promote traditional health to the place that it had before, and to really remove this veil of shame or of doubt around traditional medicine”.

Looking ahead to the Global Summit

During the second event on traditional medicine on 13 October, Dr Kuruvilla and Professor Matsabisa joined Dr Amie Steel, Co-Director of Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Australia, and Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, to identify key approaches, collaborative models and practical solutions for integrating traditional medicine across diverse global health systems.

Dr Kuruvilla explained the four strategic objectives of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and noted that WHO has been “looking at a conceptual framework of how integration in systems could happen” and outlined the next steps, which include the upcoming Summit in New Delhi. 

The adoption of the Strategy reflects a growing consensus that traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, when validated and regulated, can advance equity, inclusion and resilience in health care. As countries move from strategy to action, the focus will be on building trust, strengthening research and creating space for traditional medicine within national health plans.

Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/16-10-2025-spotlight-on-traditional-medicine-at-world-health-summit-whs-2025

FDA OKs Consensi for Osteoarthritis Pain and Hypertension

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved a combination of amlodipine besylate and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) celecoxib (Consensi, Kitov Pharma) for individuals with osteoarthritis pain and hypertension.

The company says that although celecoxib —  a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor — does not reduce blood pressure when given alone, it appears to act synergistically with the antihypertensive calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate to enhance amlodipine besylate's blood pressure–lowering ability.

"Consensi provides a safe and effective combination treatment option for the millions of Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis pain and hypertension," J. Paul Waymack, MD, ScD, chairman of Kitov's board and chief medical officer, said in a company news release.

Amlodipine and celecoxib are already approved individually by the FDA.

The combo will be available in three dosage forms, in line with the currently approved dosages of both drugs. Each will have 200 mg of celecoxib; however, the dosages of amlodipine besylate will be 2.5, 5, and 10 mg. Consensi is intended to be taken once daily.

"Over 50 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis. About 1 of 3 U.S. adults or about 75 million people have high blood pressure, known as the 'silent killer' due to the absence of noticeable symptoms. As a result, patients' adherence to the hypertension treatment regimen is low. We believe that Consensi, as a single pill combination treatment for osteoarthritis and hypertension, presents a unique value proposition of potentially increasing treatment adherence," Isaac Israel, chief executive officer, Kitov, said in the news release.

The approval follows the FDA's consideration of data from a phase 3 clinical trial that met its primary endpoint of demonstrating that the combination medication lowers daytime systolic blood pressure by 50% or more of that achieved in patients who took amlodipine besylate only (P = .001).

The company also reported results from its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled renal function phase 3/4 trial, which it claims validated the primary efficacy endpoint met in the phase 3 clinical trial. Patients who took the combination pill experienced a statistically significant reduction of serum creatinine from its value at baseline (P = .0005). The reduction of serum creatinine shows the medication improves renal function, the researchers say. Serum creatinine did not significantly decrease in those who received either amlodipine besylate alone or placebo.

Source: Medscape

Podcast: Professor Giuseppe Mancia talks about the role of beta-blockers in the overall treatment of hypertension

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Is the new BP guideline good for Asians?

Whether the 2017 ACC/AHA* blood pressure (BP) guidelines should be adopted in Asian countries was the topic of a much-anticipated discussion here at the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) Congress 2018 in Taiwan last week.

With the release of the new BP guideline, more people are immediately labelled as “hypertensive” since the BP threshold for hypertension diagnosis has been lowered to ≥130/80 mm Hg, said Professor Peera Buranakitjaroen from Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. “In the US for example, the number of hypertensive patients increased from 32 percent to 48 percent [with the new BP definition].” [APSC 2018, session S022-03]

In addition, those with a systolic BP of 140 mm Hg, previously the hypertension diagnostic cut-off in the JNC7 guideline, are now considered as having stage 2 hypertension under the new classification. The new BP threshold for drug treatment of hypertension is also lower now, noted Buranakitjaroen. [J Am Coll Cardiol 2018;71:2199-2269]

However, implementing the new BP guideline will bring about some issues. With more people being labelled as hypertensive and requiring treatment, more drugs are needed to further lower their BP, according to Buranakitjaroen.

Also, many more elderly will have serious adverse events (SAEs) from intensive BP lowering, since certain conditions that predispose one to develop SAEs are also more common in the elderly, including comorbidites (such as stroke, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease), white coat effect, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, pill burden, and frailty.

“Huge budget will be needed to cope with such demand [from implementation of the new guidelines], while we have not [yet] done well in terms of prevention, early detection, and treatment of hypertension including BP control to target using the present guidelines,” said Buranakitjaroen.

“[Therefore,] the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines should not be adopted immediately in Asian countries. While we await more clinical data, our limited resources should be used efficiently to improve the rate of awareness, detection, and treatment to target BP across the country using our own guidelines,” he stated.

As of present, the recommended BP threshold for hypertension diagnosis remains at <140/90 mm Hg in the national guideline by Thai Hypertension Society, except for certain subgroups of population, according to Buranakitjaroen. Subgroups which are exceptions to the rule include very elderly patients (age >80 years) who are recommended a BP threshold of <150/90 mm Hg; nonelderly patients (age <50 years), BP <130/80 mm Hg; and CKD patients with micro- and macro-albuminuria, BP <130/80 mm Hg.

Noting that less than 2 percent of the study population in SPRINT** — which the 2017 ACC/AHA BP guidelines are largely based on — are Asians, to project the guideline on the Asian population in the absence of data presents a unique challenge, commented Dr Eugene Yang of the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, US, who is also a member of the ACC Cardiovascular Prevention Council and Official Reviewer for the new BP guideline.

When asked about how the Asian communities tackle the issue and derive the guidelines for their respective countries, Buranakitjaroen said the current national Thai recommendations are based on consensus expert opinion from different subspecialties.

“In the Philippines, we are creating a position statement on the 2017 BP guidelines,” added Session Chair Dr Jorge Sison of Makati Medical Center, Manila, the Philippines. He explained that in real-world clinical practice in the country, BP readings are mostly based on office BP measurement, although they are also beginning to emphasize on home BP monitoring now. As such, the position statement emphasizes two levels of recommendations — a threshold of 140/90 mm Hg for office BP and 130/80 mm Hg for home BP monitoring.

*ACC/AHA: American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association
**SPRINT: Systolic PRessure INtervention Trial

Source: MIMS

Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional di Indonesia

Pelayanan kesehatan tradisional telah diakui keberadaannya sejak dahulu kala dan dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat dalam upaya preventif, promotif, kuratif dan rehabilitatif. Sampai saat ini pelayanan kesehatan tradisional  terus berkembang sesuai dengan kemajuan teknologi disertai dengan peningkatan pemanfaatannya oleh masyarakat  sebagai imbas dari  semangat untuk kembali menggunakan hal-hal  yang   bersifat  alamiah  atau dikenal dengan istilah ’back to nature’.

Dalam dunia internasional, perkembangan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional juga telah mendapat perhatian dari berbagai negara. Dari hasil kesepakatan pertemuan WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine di Beijing pada bulan November 2008 disebutkan bahwa pelayanan kesehatan tradisional yang aman dan bermanfaat dapat diintegrasikan ke dalam sistem pelayanan kesehatan. Dari pertemuan WHA pada tahun 2009 disebutkan dalam salah satu resolusinya bahwa WHO mendorong negara-negara anggotanya agar mengembangkan Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional  di negaranya sesuai kondisi setempat.

Pemerintah melalui Kementerian Kesehatan mempunyai tugas untuk melaksanakan program pembinaan terhadap pelayanan kesehatan tradisional. Hal ini bertujuan agar  pelayanan kesehatan tradisional dapat diselenggarakan dengan penuh tanggungjawab terhadap manfaat, keamanan dan juga mutu pelayanannya sehingga masyarakat terlindungi dalam memilih jenis pelayanan kesehatan tradisional yang sesuai  dengan kebutuhannya. Masyarakat juga perlu diberikan kesempatan yang seluas-luasnya untuk menggunakan dan  mengembangkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional  dan pemerintah mempunyai kewajiban untuk melakukan penapisan, pengawasan, dan pembinaan yang baik sehingga masyarakat  terhindar dari hal-hal yang merugikan akibat informasi yang menyesatkan atau pelayanan yang tidak dapat dipertanggungjawabkan.

DASAR HUKUM PELAYANAN KESEHATAN TRADISIONAL

Dalam Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia No.36 tahun 2009 tentang kesehatan terdapat beberapa pasal yang mengatur tentang Pelayanan Kesehatan tradisional yaitu pada pasal 1, 48, 59, 60 dan 61. Pada pasal  1 butir 16 yang disebutkan bahwa ”Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional adalah pengobatan dan atau perawatan dengan cara dan obat yang mengacu pada pengalaman dan keterampilan turun temurun secara empiris yang dapat dipertanggung jawabkan dan diterapkan sesuai dengan norma yang berlaku di masyarakat”.  Dalam pasal 48 juga disebutkan bahwa pelayanan kesehatan tradisional merupakan salah satu penyelenggaraan upaya kesehatan. Dalam pasal 59 disebutkan bahwa pelayanan kesehatan tradisional terbagi menjadi 2 jenis, yaitu Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional Keterampilan dan Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional Ramuan. Dalam pasal ini juga disebutkan bahwa seluruh jenis Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional dibina dan diawasi oleh Pemerintah, agar dapat dipertanggungjawabkan manfaat dan keamanannya serta tidak bertentangan dengan norma agama.  Dalam pasal 60 dan 61 disebutkan bahwa orang yang melakukan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional harus mengikuti aturan yang telah ditetapkan, dan masyarakat diberikan kesempatan seluas-luasnya untuk mengembangkan, meningkatkan dan menggunakan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional yang dapat dipertanggungjawabkan manfaat dan keamanannya. 

Jenis Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional Ramuan, antara lain: Jamu, Gurah, Homeopathy, Aroma Terapi, SPA terapi, dan metode lain yang menggunakan ramuan. Sedangkan yang termasuk dalam Yankestrad Keterampilan, antara lain: akupunktur, chiropraksi, pijat urut, shiatsu, patah tulang, dukun bayi, battra sunat, refleksi, akupressur, bekam, apiterapi, penata kecantikan kulit/rambut, tenaga dalam, paranormal, reiki, qigong, kebatinan, dan metode lainnya yang mengunakan keterampilan. 

PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT DALAM PELAYANAN KESEHATAN TRADISIONAL MELALUI TOGA

Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional sendiri dapat digunakan masyarakat dalam mengatasi gangguan kesehatan secara mandiri (self-care), baik untuk pribadi maupun untuk keluarga melalui pemanfaatan Taman Obat Keluarga (TOGA). Hal ini sangat berguna, khususnya di daerah yang mengalami keterbatasan dalam memperoleh akses pelayanan kesehatan.

Bila dilihat lebih jauh manfaat TOGA dalam mendukung masyarakat yang sehat secara mandiri, akan berdampak pada upaya untuk mewujudkan pencapaian tujuan MDG’s di bidang Kesehatan, yaitu Menanggulangi Kemiskinan dan Kelaparan, Menurunkan Angka Kematian Anak, Meningkatkan Kesehatan Ibu, dan Memerangi HIV/AIDS, Malaria, dan Penyakit Menular Lainnya. 

Upaya dukungan dari Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional dalam mencapai tujuan MDG’s antara lain perawatan ibu setelah bersalin dengan memanfaatkan daun Katuk dan Lobak sebagi sayur dan biji jagung tua yang disangrai untuk memperlancar keluarnya ASI dalam mendukung pencapaian ASI Eksklusif. Pemanfaatan daun Kacang Panjang, daun Dadap Serep, dan  Bawang Merah untuk mengobati payudara bengkak (mastitis) dengan cara ditumbuk dan ditempelkan ke seluruh payudara, kecuali pada puting susu.  Jeruk nipis dicampur dengan kapur sirih dan minyak kayu putih juga dapat dimanfaatkan untuk perawatan perut setelah melahirkan. Dalam menjaga kesehatan anak, bisa menggunakan Temulawak dan Beras Kencur untuk menambah nafsu makan. Jika anak demam, dapat diobati dengan memanfaatkan daun Sambiloto dan Pule yang didihkan dengan air kemudian diminum, selain itu dapat memanfaatkan daun Dadap Serep dan daun Kembang Sepatu yang diremas-remas dan ditempelkan di kepala anak. Pemanfaatan pijat pada anak yang sudah ada turun temurun di Indonesia untuk memperlancar peredaran darah dan meningkatkan kebugaran pada anak. Pemanfaatan daun Jambu Biji yang masih muda dapat digunakan dalam penanggulangan diare pada Balita sedangkan untuk mengobati disentri, bisa memanfaatkan daun Sambiloto kering yang direbus atau menggunakan daun Patikan Cina yang dicampur dengan Bawang Merah dan Pulosari. Tanaman Serai dan Lavender bisa dimanfaatkan sebagai pengusir nyamuk. Pemanfaatan TOGA/Jamu untuk memelihara kesehatan yang berimplikasi pada peningkatan Usia harapan Hidup seperti daun Landep Segar dan Gandarusa sebagai obat pegal linu dan masih banyak hal-hal lain dari bumi Indonesia yang belum tergali pemanfaatannya untuk kesehatan. 

PEMBINAAN DAN PENGAWASAN PELAYANAN KESEHATAN TRADISIONAL

Dalam kebijakan Kementerian Kesehatan RI, pembinaan dan pengawasan Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional dilakukan melalui 3 (tiga) pilar. Pilar pertama adalah Regulasi, adapun dukungan regulasi terhadap Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional telah dituangkan dalam Undang-Undang RI No. 36 tahun 2009 yang telah disebutkan diatas, SKN tahun 2009 yang menyebutkan bahwa Pengobatan Tradisional merupakan bagian sub sistem Upaya Kesehatan, Kepmenkes RI Nomor 1076/Menkes/SK/VII/2003 tentang Penyelenggaraan Pengobatan Tradisional dan  Kepmenkes No 1/2010 tentang Saintifikasi Jamu berbasis pelayanan. Pilar kedua adalah Pembina Kemitraan dengan berbagai Lintas Sektor terkait dan organisasi (asosiasi) pengobat tradisional termasuk pengawasan terhadap tenaga pengobat tradisional baik yang asli Indonesia maupun yang berasal dari luar negeri. Pilar ketiga adalah Pendayagunaan Sentra Pengembangan dan Penerapan Pengobatan Tradisional (Sentra P3T) untuk menapis metode Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional di masyarakat dan melakukan pembuktian melalui pengkajian, penelitian, uji klinik, baik terhadap cara maupun terhadap manfaat dan keamanannya. Pada saat ini sudah ada 11 Sentra P3T tersebar di 11 Provinsi yaitu Sumatera Utara, Jawa Barat, DKI, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, DIY, Bali, NTB, Maluku, Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi Tenggara serta adanya Balai Kesehatan Tradisional Masyarakat (BKTM) di Makassar dan Loka Kesehatan Tradisional Masyarakat (LKTM) di Palembang. 

Pembinaan dan pengawasan terhadap pelayanan kesehatan tradisional dilakukan secara berjenjang mulai dari tingkat rumah tangga, masyarakat, Pelayanan Kesehatan Dasar di Puskesmas, Kabupaten/Kota, Provinsi & Kementerian Kesehatan bersama lintas sektor terkait dan mengikut sertakan asosiasi pengobat tradisional. Sementara ini Kementerian Kesehatan telah bermitra atau bekerja dengan beberapa jenis Asosiasi Pengobat Tradisional (Battra) yang terkelompokkan sesuai dengan metodenya masing-masing. Diharapkan asosiasi Battra bisa membantu Kementrian Kesehatan dalam pembinaan pengobat di Indonesia namun harus selalu dievaluasi kemitraannya. Terdapat asosiasi Battra yang ada antara lain :

1. Ikatan Homoeopathy Indonesia (IHI)
2. Persatuan Akupunktur Seluruh Indonesia (PAKSI)
3. Perhimpunan  Chiroprakasi Indonesia (Perchirindo)
4. Ikatan Naturopatis Indonesia (IKNI)
5. Persatuan Ahli Pijat Tuna Netra Indonesia (Pertapi)
6. Asosiasi Praktisi pijat Pengobatan Indonesia (AP3I)
7. Asosiasi Reiki Seluruh Indonesia (ARSI)
8. Asosiasi SPA Terapis Indonesia (ASTI)
9. Asosiasi Pengobat Tradisional Ramuan Indonesia (ASPETRI)
10. Ikatan Pengobat Tradisional Indonesia (IPATRI)
11. Forum Komunikasi Paranormal dan Penyembuh Alternatif Indonesia (FKPPAI)
12. Asosiasi Therapi Tenaga Dalam Indonesia (ATTEDA)
13. Asosiasi Bekam Indonesia (ABI)
14. Persatuan Ahli Kecantikan Tiara Kusuma.

Selain itu untuk pengawasan pengobat tradisional, Kementerian Kesehatan juga berkerjasama dengan Kantor Imigrasi, Mabes POLRI, Kejaksaan, Kementerian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi, terutama untuk pengawasan Pengobat Tradisional Asing yang datang ke Indonesia.

Setiap Warga Negara Indonesia yang bekerja sebagai pengobat tradisional harus memiliki SIPT/STPT (Surat Izin/Terdaftar Pengobat Tradisional) yang didapatkan dari Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten/Kota setempat. Sampai saat ini, metode Pelayanan kesehatan tradisional yang telah diakui manfaat dan keamanannya oleh Indonesia adalah akupuntur. Oleh karena Untuk SIPT hanya dikeluarkan untuk Battra jenis akupuntur yang telah dilengkapi dengan sertifikat kompetensi, selain jenis akupuntur saat ini hanya mendapatkan STPT. Untuk Pengobat Tradisional Asing yang akan masuk ke Indonesia, harus memiliki rekomendasi dari Kementerian Kesehatan. Rekomendasi ini bisa didapatkan setelah yang bersangkutan dinyatakan lulus oleh tim penilai. Pengobat tradisional asing tidak diperkenankan berpraktek langsung ke masyarakat Indonesia melainkan hanya sebagia konsultan dalam rangka transfer ilmu pengetahuan kepada pengobat tradisional Indonesia.

REORGANISASI DI KEMENTERIAN KESEHATAN TAHUN 2010

Dalam rangka menjawab tantangan mengenai perkembangan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional yang sudah sangat berkembang pesat di masyarakat, Kementerian Kesehatan telah merencanakan untuk melakukan perubahan struktur organisasi dengan peningkatan dari eselon 3 menjadi setingkat eselon 2 untuk program Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional. Reorganisasi yang telah direncanakan yaitu penggabungan Subdit Bina Upaya Kesehatan Tradisional, Ditjen Bina Kesehatan Masyarakat dengan Subdit Pelayanan Medik Alternatif dan Komplementer, Ditjen Pelayanan Medik menjadi Direktorat baru yaitu Direktorat Bina Pelayanan Kesehatan Tradisional, Alternatif dan Komplementer. Perubahan ini diharapkan akan memberikan sumbangsih penanganan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional di Indonesia lebih baik dari sebelumnya.

Potensi sumber daya alam dan sumber daya manusia dalam pelayanan kesehatan tradisional di Indonesia sangat banyak dan beragam jenisnya. Sudah saatnya kita mulai mendayagunakan sumber daya tersebut untuk kita manfaatkan dalam peningkatan derajat kesehatan masyarakat. Di dunia  internasional sementara ini yang telah memanfaatkan potensi pengobatan tradisional antara lain negara cina, vietnam, korea, jepang sangat berkembang dengan pesat. Kita berharap Indonesia yang mempunyai kekayaan alam yang melimpah sebagai bahan baku herbal (obat ramuan tradisional) bisa dimanfaatkan seoptimal mungkin sehingga dapat bersaing dengan negara-negara tersebut. Paradigma pelayanan kesehatan tradisional saat ini sudah sangat pesat seiring dengan berkembangnya ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi yang ada.  Mari kita bersama-masa mewujudkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional yang dapat dipertanggungjawabkan manfaat dan keamanannya bagi kesehatan serta tidak bertentangan dengan norma agama dan budaya yang ada di Indonesia. 

Sumber: http://www.gizikia.depkes.go.id/archives/3133