Traditional medicines and human development

Abstract

The present issue of Universitas Forum is intended as a contribution to meeting the need to disseminate the accumulated knowledge on the integration of complementary and traditional medicine in public health systems. Drawing from the experiences of China, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Italy, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Serbia and South Africa the articles published here illustrate the extent to which this practice exists and has surged in many countries and propose critical conceptual and methodological tools for fostering the articulation between medicines and different forms of knowledge, needed to fully develop the political and epistemological potential of this practice and the prospects it offers for innovating health systems and quality of care, and for meeting the broader challenges for human development and dignity. We hope this issue will offer some insights on traditional medicine and its articulation with public health systems as an important resource for human development, to meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of communities for their well-being and security, especially in a global climate of uncertainty and dearth of economic resources.