Association News
To Member States- Ministers of Health
World Health Assembly a resolution
On May 24th2019 at the World Health Assembly a resolution entitled: Preparation for the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage” was adopted.
This resolution contains the following paragraph that urges the inclusion of T&CM in the global Universal Health Care plans:
“The Seventy-second World Health Assembly, URGES Member States: to consider integrating, as appropriate, safe and evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine services within national and/or subnational health systems, particularly at the level of primary health care, according to national context and priorities.” The resolution can be found here: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA72/A72_70-en.pdf
In September there is a high-level United Nations meeting that will determine the direction of Universal Health Care globally. The meeting will include primarily Health Ministers.
The adoption of the above resolution was an important first step. What we now need is for members to follow-up this critical resolution with a letter to their Ministry of Health recognizing the significance of this resolution and requesting that they continue to support the role of T&CM in Primary Health Care (PHC) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
I have included a letter template for your reference. (Please note, it is done on WNF letterhead. You are welcome to use our letterhead or to add/change to the letterhead of your organization). The naturopathic profession has been extremely responsive to the commitment to the Astana Declaration (which is a WHO document). We now need your assistance in ensuring that the United Nations continues to acknowledge (in writing) the significant role of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in both PHC and UHC.
Please send your Minister of Health a letter within the next couple of weeks. If you would copy the WNF on the letter, that would be appreciated. Feel free to share this letter with other colleagues and T&CM professionals that are politically connected. If you require any assistance, please contact the WNF at info@worldnaturopathicfederation.org
Dr. Iva Lloyd, ND
President WNF
www.worldnaturopathicfederation.org
Honorable Minister for Health
Mr. CONSTANTINOS IOANNOU
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
1 Prodromou & Chilonos Street 17
1448 Nicosia, Cyprus
June 4th, 2019
Re: T&CM Inclusion in UHC (Universal Health Coverage)
Dear Mr. Constantinos
We would like to acknowledge the significant step taken at the recent World Health Assembly during the plenary session Document A72/70 where the resolution entitled: “Preparation for the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage” was adopted.
This resolution contains the following paragraph that urges the inclusion of T&CM in the global Universal Health Care plans:
“The Seventy-second World Health Assembly, URGES Member States: to consider integrating, as appropriate, safe and evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine services within national and/or subnational health systems, particularly at the level of primary health care, according to national context and priorities.” The resolution can be found here: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA72/A72_70-en.pdf
Our organization PANCYPRIAN NATUROPATHIC THERAPEUTICS ASSOCIATION is a full member of of the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF) and we represent the naturopathic practitioners with the highest educational standards in CYPRUS/GREECE. All practitioner Members of our Association hold a Professional Diploma from the most respected College of Naturopathic Medicine U.K and University of America USA. According to our Association records thousands of patients have treated successfully with natural therapy methods and remedies.
We encourage you to continue to support the inclusion of all Traditional and Complementary practitioners, including naturopathic practitioners, in the global strategy on Universal Health Care and Primary Health Care for All.
We are looking forward to the outcome of the global conference on Universal Health Care which is being held this September in New York. We would like to request that you continue to support the resolution adopted at the 72nd World Health Assembly.
If you require any information on the practice or research supporting naturopathic practice, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. ANDREAS NICOLAOU (President of Naturopathic & Complementary Medicine Association). E-mail: naturae@cytanet.com.cy, Tel: 99- 463550
Respectfully,
Prof. ANDREAS NICOLAOU
