Integrating Traditional and Complementary Medicine with National Healthcare Systems for Universal Health Coverage in Asia and the Western Pacific

In the WHO Western Pacific Region, traditional medicine has extensively been used by communities as part of primary health care which is critical foundation for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). This paper conceptualizes integration of traditional and complementary medicine (T 'in-process of developing and implementing integration policies'; 'mixed-level of integration'; or 'indigenous traditional medicine practiced outside the national healthcare system'. Integration of T efficiency; equity; accountability; and sustainability and resilience. It can contribute to improving quality of healthcare services through regulation of T meeting population needs in ageing population and managing non-communicable diseases; improving equitable access to care through health insurance coverage of T improving accountability by monitoring and use of data for informed-policy decisions on T and strengthening sustainability and resilience through maximizing potentials of T&CM in managing outbreaks of infectious diseases and disasters. Depending on the level of integration, actions to move forward integration of T&CM as a pathway toward UHC will be various.