Fulfilling the potential of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine for global health: addressing structural inequities within the research ecosystem

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe 2026 Open access

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Authors: Jon David Adams, Amie Steel, Nils Gilman, Marcel Wrzesinski, Motlalepula Gilbert Matsabisa, Georg Seifert
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101649
Cited by: 2
References: 4

Abstract

The latest WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy1 and second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine highlight traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM)—a diverse set of practices, products, and care systems—as a cornerstone of global health. TCIM provides essential yet often covert support to formal health systems for what is estimated to be up to 80% of the world's population, particularly in structurally marginalised populations and lower income countries.2 Amid mounting pressures, including ageing populations, rising chronic disease, and health workforce burnout, the need for rigorous TCIM research has never been more urgent.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications

Publication details

Journal / source
The Lancet Regional Health - Europe
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
63
Pages
101649–101649
Publication date
13 March 2026
Language
EN