Scope and purpose page 1

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA

ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L'EUROPE

ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ

ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

1st Regional Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Stakeholders Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, 9 – 10 September 2025

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UN City, Copenhagen, Denmark 8 July 2025 9 – 10 September 2025 Original: English

Scope and purpose

The Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) Research Priority Setting Exercise is a critical initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to advance the integration of traditional medicine into global health systems. Coordinated by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre and the Research for Health department, with support from the University of Technology Sydney, this project aims to establish a comprehensive TCIM Research Roadmap.

Rationale and Importance:

Traditional medicine plays a significant role in healthcare globally, yet challenges persist in integrating this knowledge into mainstream healthcare due to fragmented research and a lack of cohesive global guidelines. The exercise seeks to overcome these hurdles by prioritizing research agendas that provide strategic direction, foster reliable evidence generation, and translate findings into effective policies and interventions. The roadmap will consider the worldviews, epistemologies, and principles of various TCIM systems to ensure relevance, acceptability, and benefit to users and providers.

Underpinning Principles and Values:

The exercise is guided by the fundamental principle of generating high-quality, context- appropriate evidence for the safe and effective use of traditional practices and products. It recognizes that evidence in TCIM is often grounded in centuries of practical experience, oral traditions, and holistic understandings. The initiative promotes transformative changes in global health by encouraging research that explores innovative TCIM approaches, investigates how contemporary science can enhance TCIM practices, and identifies what modern science can learn from TCIM. Key guiding principles include inclusivity, respect for traditional practices, sustainability, and the rights of indigenous peoples, ensuring equity and cost-effectiveness. Active involvement of diverse stakeholders, especially Indigenous peoples and local communities, is crucial

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to challenge dominant colonial approaches and enrich the research process. The exercise also emphasizes sustainability and biodiversity conservation, highlighting TCIM's contribution to personalized medicine and the integration of technology and artificial intelligence.

Aim and Outputs of the TCIM Research Priority Setting Exercise:

The overarching aim is to support and facilitate effective, fair, and equitable access to TCIM through rigorous, appropriate, and prioritized TCIM research, while strengthening networks among key stakeholders.

The primary output is a Regional TCIM Research Roadmap that will: • Establish global research priorities for TCIM from 2025-2034, relevant at individual country, regional, and global levels. • Prioritize research to identify appropriate methodologies for TCIM. • Guide resource allocation for effective and impactful TCIM research programs. • Improve coordination of TCIM research to build a knowledge base that allows TCIM to be actively managed through appropriate national policies. • Specifically, the roadmap will: • Identify knowledge gaps relevant to regions and globally to achieve the strategic objectives of the Global TCIM strategy 2025-2034. • Create a prioritized list of domains and categories for TCIM research funding, highlighting key topics and activities. • Recommend funding and policy mechanisms to create sustainability in TCIM research. • Recommend effective mechanisms and frameworks to coordinate regional and global TCIM research efforts. • Propose a framework of ethics, values, and principles for the conduct and reporting of TCIM research. • Promote transformative changes in global health by encouraging research into innovative TCIM approaches, exploring how contemporary science can enhance TCIM practices, and identifying what modern science can learn from TCIM. • Lead to the creation of a decision support tool for Member States, evaluating feasibility, timelines, processes, and costs for various research priorities.

Target Audience:

The TCIM Research Roadmap is intended to inform researchers, policymakers, and funding bodies who contribute to or rely on TCIM research evidence.

Project Plan and Phases:

The project will employ a convergent mixed methodology with iterative parallel arms, following WHO guidance on 'A Systematic Approach for Undertaking a Research- Priority Setting Exercise'. Diverse key stakeholders, including TCIM and indigenous

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health practitioners, researchers, policymakers, funding agencies, healthcare providers, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, will be engaged from an early stage.

The project is divided into four phases:

⁃ Scoping: Finalization of the project plan, timetable, proposed methodology, and staffing arrangements.

⁃ Landscape Analysis: Exploration of the global TCIM research landscape through literature, document analysis, and broader data sets.

⁃ Delphi Study: Obtaining expert perspectives on TCIM research priorities and expected outcomes through in-person and online stakeholder consultations, followed by multiple rounds of survey research.

⁃ Implementation and Dissemination: Preparing findings for publication and developing an implementation plan, including dissemination and sustainability strategies.

Key considerations during the identification of knowledge gaps and development of research priorities include:

⁃ Exploring holistic health approaches and the linkages between TCIM, biodiversity, sustainability, and planetary health.

⁃ Leveraging technology, digital health, and AI to enhance TCIM research and practice.

⁃ Identifying and developing new methods for TCIM research, including validating medicinal products without harming animals.

⁃ Emphasizing research that acknowledges and evaluates the holistic effects of multi-ingredient TCIM medicines and interventions.

⁃ Securing adequate funding and resources, advocating for TCIM integration into health policies and systems, and incorporating advances in ontology and epistemology to inform research methodologies, including clarifying a TCIM- sensitive approach to defining evidence.

⁃ Identifying knowledge gaps in skills, policies, and legal frameworks that hinder TCIM integration into mainstream healthcare systems.

⁃ Exploring areas of TCIM research with significant implications for trade and commerce.

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Provisional agenda

Proposed Agenda for Regional Meeting on Traditional Medicine Research Priority Setting

Day 1: Setting the Stage and Identifying Regional Priorities

Morning Session:

• 9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks

o Welcome address by CPS Director and AMP Regional Advisor

o Introduction to the Global TCIM Research Priority Setting Exercise

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM: Keynote Address: The Role of Traditional Medicine in Global Health

o Overview of the global landscape of TCIM in the WHO EURO

o The importance of evidence based TCIM

• 10:15 - 11:00 AM: Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities in TCIM Research

• 11:00 - 11:15 AM: Coffee Break

• 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM: Breakout Sessions: Identifying Regional Research Priorities

Afternoon Session:

• 1:30 - 2:30 PM: Breakout Sessions: Identifying Regional Research Priorities

• 2:30 - 3:00 PM: Coffee Break

• 3:00 - 5:00 PM: Breakout Sessions: Developing Research Methodologies

o Group discussions on appropriate methodologies for regional priorities.

Day 2: Capacity Building, Knowledge Sharing, and Way Forward

Morning Session:

• 9:00 - 10:00 AM: Keynote Address: Capacity Building in TM Research

• 10:00 - 12:30 PM: Breakout Sessions: Developing a Regional TM Research Roadmap

Afternoon Session:

• 1:30 - 2:30 PM: Plenary Session: Sharing Regional Research Roadmaps

• 2:30 - 3:00 PM: Coffee Break

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• 3:00 - 4:00 PM: Panel Discussion: The Way Forward

• 4:00 - 4:30 PM: Closing Remarks and Way Forward

Note:

• The agenda is flexible and can be adjusted based on the specific needs and interests of the participants.

o Ensure adequate time for networking and informal discussions.

o Provide opportunities for participants to share their experiences and challenges.

o Use technology to facilitate interactive sessions and virtual participation.

By following this agenda, the regional meeting can effectively address the key issues in TM research and develop a strong foundation for future collaboration.

UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Denmark

Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ

WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ

Date: 11 July 2025

Ms Helen Sõber Adviser European Union Affairs and International Co- operation Department Ministry of Social Affairs Suur-Ameerika 1 10122 Tallinn Estonia

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE

REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

Head office: UN City, Marmorvej 51,

DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01

Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe

Our reference: Notre référence: Unser Zeichen: См. наш номер:

Your reference: Votre référence: Ihr Zeichen: На Ваш номер:

Dear Ms Sõber,

1st Regional Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Stakeholders Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, 9 – 10 September 2025

I have the honor to inform you that the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe is organizing the 1st Regional Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Stakeholders Meeting. This important event will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 9th to 10th, 2025.

I also have the pleasure of inviting you to nominate one participant from your country to contribute their valuable perspective to this important initiative. WHO recognizes that the sustainability and impact of the identified research priorities depend on incorporating diverse viewpoints. Therefore, from the project's inception, we will actively engage a wide range of stakeholders, including TCIM and Indigenous health practitioners and researchers, policymakers and government officials, funding agencies and donors, healthcare providers and patients, academic and research institutions, and civil society organizations. We especially welcome nominations from delegates representing these groups, as their contributions will be crucial to the project's success.

WHO is undertaking a crucial initiative to set the global agenda and priorities for traditional complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) research. This work is being coordinated by the TCIM research and evidence unit, WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, and the Emerging Technologies, Research Prioritization, and Support Unit, Research for Health Department, in close collaboration with the Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine Unit, Integrated Health Services Department and all WHO regional offices.

This TCIM Research Priority Setting Exercise aims to advance the integration of TCIM into health systems worldwide. Recognizing the significant role TCIM plays in providing healthcare to millions and its potential to contribute to more holistic, connected, and personalized healthcare, this initiative seeks to address the current fragmented approach to TCIM research and the lack of cohesive global guidelines for developing actionable evidence. Please note that the working language will be English.

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We look forward to receiving your nomination, the name, functional title, and contact details (address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers) of the proposed participants by 1 August 2025. The required information should be directed to Dorina Pirgari ([email protected]), Access to Medicines and Health Products (AMP), WHO Regional Office for Europe. We will then communicate with the participants directly and provide them with the necessary documentation and administrative information in good time. WHO will cover the cost of travel and per diem in accordance with the WHO travel policy.

Yours sincerely,

Natasha Azzopardi Muscat Director, Division of Country Health Policies and Systems WHO Regional Office for Europe

Encls: Draft concept note

Copy for information to: Ms Agne Nettan-Sepp, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland H.E. Mr Andre Pung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia, Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia