Inclusion of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in the United Nations Strategy and the World Health Organization

Background and Aim: The most compelling evidence for the inclusion of traditional and complementary medicine in the area of the right to health is General Comment NO.14 of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Lack of effective implementation of national policies and soft law in traditional and complementary medicine is harmful to many societies and impedes the realization of fundamental human rights. This paper analyzes the inclusion of traditional and complementary rights in the domain of the right to health and its place in the WHO's strategic plans and the UN International Documents.Does the theory of health right include traditional and complementary medicine and is it hard or soft in international documents? In response to the questions raised, some of the shortcomings of the policy and regulations of traditional and complementary medicine are addressed. Materials and Methods: This research is based on a descriptive-analytical method and is based on valid library documents and resources. The theoretical framework of research is justice-based rights. Findings: The transformation is evident in the scope of the right to health and the inclusion of traditional and complementary medicine that relate to the effective enjoyment of the highest standard of attainable health. Although traditional and complementary medicine is clearly within the scope of international human rights law for health, explicit expression of its right can assist in achieving the goal of the World Health Organization in improving fair, effective and quality access to traditional and safe complementary medicine. Conclusion: None of the international treaties explicitly prohibit traditional and complementary medicine. In international human rights law, the right to health as set forth in mandatory legal treaties does not explicitly include the right to use traditional and complementary medicine. The analysis of these cases provides evidence for establishing a legal basis for the inclusion of traditional and complementary medicine in the international human rights framework regarding the right to health. And proposes that the international community regulate an explicit and statutory right in the form of an internationally binding (hard rights) document on traditional and complementary medicine. Please cite this article as: Ghanbari MA, Delpasand K, Ghanbari A. Inclusion of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in the United Nations Strategy and the World Health Organization. Med Hist J 2020; 11(41): 7-22.