Turkic States to Unite in the Field of Traditional Medicine
The 1st Traditional Medicine Sub-Working Group Meeting of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held online on January 21, 2025. The meeting was attended by Dr. Esra KARABAL ARDA, Head of Department of Traditional, Complementary, and Functional Medicine Practices at the Ministry of Health; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Enes GÖKLER, Head of Türkiye Public Health and Chronic Diseases Institute; Fatih KARADEMİR, Head of Department of Foreign Affairs at TÜSEB; a representative of OTS Secretariat; and representatives of member states.
The integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine and its development based on scientific foundations constituted the main agenda item.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that traditional medical practices should be enhanced through cross-country knowledge sharing and collaborations. Participants stated that each country should share its experiences in various fields of traditional medicine and initiate joint research projects. Additionally, it was noted that the potential of Turkic states in the field of medical tourism has come to the forefront.
The development of curricula for traditional medicine education, the strengthening of licensing processes, and the initiation of joint research projects were also among the key topics discussed.
