Turkey sets an example in traditional and complementary medicine

Deputy Minister Prof. Dr. Nurullah Okumuş made a statement regarding the 3rd Traditional and Complementary Medicine Congress (GETAT), which will be held under the auspices of the Presidency on October 3-5.

Okumuş stated that 178 scientists from Türkiye will attend the congress to be held in Istanbul, and that the ministry aims to provide patients with the most accurate treatment they need with the fewest side effects, without making a distinction between traditional and modern healthcare services.

Pointing out that traditional and complementary medical practices have attracted increasing interest worldwide in recent years, Okumuş said, "In our country, all traditional medical and complementary practices are carried out within the framework of evidence-based data."

Okumuş said that according to the Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medical Practices published in 2004, evidence-based traditional medical practices are currently being practiced in 15 different areas in Türkiye.

Okumuş, explaining that applications in areas such as cupping therapy, leech therapy, ozone therapy, hypnosis, and reflexology are being implemented, said, "All of these are evidence-based. Traditional and complementary medicine practices in our country have increasingly become a model for the world in recent years. We are one of the few countries in the world that implements these treatments in healthcare institutions, accompanied by scientifically prepared evidence-based guidelines. We provide this information to all our citizens and practitioners with our guides in both Turkish and English."

"We also allow family doctors"

Okumuş stated that the most recent developments will be discussed at the 3rd GETAT Congress, saying, "The congress will feature workshops alongside scientific presentations. These workshops will feature active application of these treatments. We conduct our procedures entirely through certified healthcare professionals. There are approximately 14,000 certified healthcare professionals in our country who perform these procedures."

Okumuş stated that while traditional and complementary medicine was once considered "unscientific," it has now become a field that supports modern medicine. "These treatments are administered in hospitals by trained and certified healthcare professionals in appropriate settings," he said. "Interest has grown so much that we are now allowing family physicians to practice complementary traditional medicine, not just in hospitals."

Regarding traditional and complementary medicine practice centers, Okumuş shared, "Currently, we have 83 centers located in large hospitals that are traditional and complementary medicine practice centers. When we look at the units, we also have 2,150 units. There are approximately 14,000 healthcare professionals certified in this field."

"International workshop will be held"

Okumuş said that while the Far East and China are generally pioneers in traditional and complementary medical practices, traditional medicine forms the basis of Anatolian medicine.

Okumuş also stated that Turkey's rich flora provides a significant advantage, especially in the field of phytotherapy, and that the congress will attract participants from neighboring countries, Turkic republics, the Middle East, Egypt, Mongolia , and Japan.

Okumuş also noted that, simultaneously with the congress, an international workshop will be held for the first time in Türkiye, with the participation of 21 different countries, on the theme of the past, present and future of traditional and complementary medicine practices.