The need to incorporate the theories and principles of traditional medicine into medical curriculum

1. TRADITIONALAND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
&
MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULA
ERIC SSENNUNI
MBChB IV, GULU UNIVERSITY
ssalongoericson@gmail.com
+256787990975/ +256787990975

2. Outline
 Overview on T&CM
 Integration of T&CM in medical school curricula
Introduction
Why?
How and When?
Likely challenges
 Take home message
 References

3. T&CM Overview
 TM is sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories,
beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or
not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis,
improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.
 Complementary/alternative medicine” refer to a broad set of health care
practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition or conventional
medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant health-care system.
 The two are often being used interchangeably with traditional medicine

4. TM has a long history of use in health maintenance and in disease prevention
and treatment, particularly for chronic disease like caners and mental health
disorders
T&CM continues to be widely used in most countries, and its uptake is
increasing rapidly in other countries.
It is used by 80% of Asian and African populations to meet their healthcare
needs

5. OBJECTIVES
To understood the background of T&CM
To known the relevancy of incorporating its theories and principles it the
medical curriculum
To discuss how and when to incorporate its theories and principles it the
medical curriculum
To point out the likely challenges in the implementation of this strategy

6.  Introduction
Integration of T&CM in medical school curricula
 Globally, many universities have introduced T&CM training in their medical
school curricula. These include Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Duke, and some South
African universities.
 This has not yet been taken up in Uganda and most sub Saharan African
countries.
 A big number of medical students; about 60% at Makerere University ()
recommended inclusion of traditional and complementary medicine principles
into medical school curricula in Uganda.

7.  Knowledge
 Efficacy, safety and side effect profile (quality control)
 Research & discovery of new drugs
 Therapeutic alliance and quick health seeking behavior
 Our clients’ safety
 Autonomy
WHY?

8.  Theories and principles in preclinical years (year 1 &2) together with the other basic
biomedicals
 The practical demonstrations in clinical years (year 4 &5) by traditional health
practitioners.
 Part of sociology in yr.1 and part of logbooks for community clerkship in yr.4
 Electives/ Min-workshops just like essential surgical skill
 A separate course
When and How?

9. Likely challenges
 Teachers?
 information and teaching resources?
 Finances?
 Time?
 Acceptance?
 etc.

10. Take home
(Mwaka et al, 2018)

11. References
1. The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023
2. Deogratius Mwaka, A., Tusabe, G., Garimoi, C. O. & Vohra, S. Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to traditional and
complementary medicine practice does not make it go away: a qualitative study exploring perceptions and attitudes of
stakeholders towards the integration of traditional and complementary medicine into medical school curriculum in Uganda.
doi:10.1186/s12909-018-1419-4.
3. Mwaka, A. D., Tusabe, G., Garimoi, C. O., Vohra, S. & Ibingira, C. Integration of traditional and
complementary medicine into medical school curricula: A survey among medical students in Makerere
University, Uganda. BMJ Open 9, (2019).
4. Chitindingu, E., George, G. & Gow, J. A review of the integration of traditional, complementary and
alternative medicine into the curriculum of South African medical schools. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-
6920/14/40 (2014) doi:10.1186/1472-6920-14-40.
5. GOOGLE

12. T&CM IS REAL!
DON’T IGNORE IT!
THANK YOU