Strengthening Global Public Health through Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine:

knowledge diversity, well-being societies, planetary health

About the 3rd WCTCIM

Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), as the World Health Organization (WHO) has termed this field of knowledge and practice, is a major resource for long-term health. Globally, TCIM has a long history and represents the primary or preferred health care for 80% of the world's population. TCIM also offers a global resource for innovation to bring sustainability to healthcare systems. Access to safe, effective and culturally appropriate healthcare is a fundamental human right, which has been supported by research from around the world.

As the World Health Organization has affirmed in the 2023 Gujarat Declaration, fruit of the First WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in India in 2023, TCIM is an important element of a strategy toward universal health coverage and the pursuit of health-related Sustainable Development Goals across nations. TCIM “promote[s] health and well-being of all members of our human family at all ages, and that of the planet that sustains us all”. The Declaration also echoes the WHO’s 2018 Declaration of Astana, the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration 2023, and the new ICD-11 Chapter on Traditional Medicine, in emphasizing the contributions of both TCIM knowledge systems and related practices to these goals.

To advance these aims, as the Gujarat Declaration affirms, a robust body of rigorous TCIM-related evidence is needed. Such evidence should be produced using “inclusive and multi-disciplinary research methods”. These methods involve both conventional methodologies and those that recognize the “complex, holistic and individualized” character of many TCIM approaches and their diverse affiliated “knowledges”, while remaining “culturally appropriate”.

About Organizers

CABSIN is a network of more than 300 affiliated researchers and 96 associated researchers, in 14 scientific committees. The Consortium promotes the dissemination of knowledge and the implementation of evidence-based policies to integrate traditional and complementary people-centered products, practices and professionals into health systems. In collaboration with BIREME/PAHO/WHO, CABSIN systematized 2,000 Systematic Reviews into 28 effectiveness evidence maps, evaluating the effect of TCIM Interventions on clinical.

https://en.cabsin.org.br

ISCMR is an international multidisciplinary scientific organization established to foster the development and dissemination of new knowledge regarding whole person healing and whole systems healthcare research, including all traditional, holistic, alternative, complementary, and integrative forms of medicine. ISCMR provides a platform for knowledge and information exchange. Since 2003, ISCMR has promoted international communication and collaboration among members from over 50 countries. CABSIN is ISCMR's Chapter Brazil.

https://www.iscmr.org

The European Society of Integrative Medicine e.V. (ESIM) is an international European association with the aim to facilitate the advancement of science, research, education and further training, to support best and evidence-based medical care and to provide advice on policy in the realm of Integrative Medicine (defined as interaction between conventional and complementary medicine based on evidence-based results)

https://european-society-integrative-medicine.org

Over a three-day period, and using a multilingual format, the Congress will feature:

Keynote lectures from renowned researchers, global leaders and traditional/Indigenous knowledge holders in the TCIM field

Oral and poster presentations of original TCIM-related research

Panel sessions and participatory dialogues aimed at generating tangible solutions to real world challenges in TCIM research, practice, education and policy

Opportunities for participant networking and skills development, as well as social events highlighting the vibrant life of the host city

Ten Principles of the 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine:

1. Inclusivity: Ensure representation and participation from all world regions, diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and sectors within the field of TCIM and public health. 

2. Diversity: Recognize the critical importance of biodiversity and cultural diversity to the wellbeing of people and the planet, and validate the distinct contributions of different forms of knowledge and disciplinary approaches. 

3. Evidence-informed: Emphasize respect for diverse traditional and Indigenous knowledges and knowledge holders, as well as evidence-informed practices, policies and research in TCIM, promoting credibility, transparency and cost-effectiveness in the field.  

4. Equity: Prioritize equity and social justice in all conference activities, ensuring fair representation and opportunities for meaningful participation.

5. Collaboration: Encourage networking and exchange of ideas among participants, fostering a sense of shared responsibility towards achieving knowledge diversity, well-being societies and planetary health. 

6. Sustainability: Integrate principles of biodiversity preservation and sustainability into all aspects of the conference, including venue selection, materials, and programming.

7. Accessibility: Strive to make the conference accessible to all including Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), considering factors such as physical accessibility, language diversity, and affordability.

8. Innovation: Foster socially-just, ecologically-sustainable innovation, inspired by traditional and Indigenous knowledges, respecting the principles of free, prior and informed consent, to address current and emerging challenges in public health.

9. Transparency: Maintain transparency in decision-making processes and communication, fostering trust and accountability among conference stakeholders. 

10. Real-World Impact: Foster opportunities for real-world action related to conference insights.