In September 2001, the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific endorsed a Regional Strategy for Traditional Medicine to guide national governments, WHO and other partners in the efforts to ensure the proper use of traditional medicine and its contribution for maintaining health and fighting diseases in the Region. The regional strategy has identified strategic directions and actions, which provide general principles and guidance for countries and areas to use in responding to the challenges which they may face with consideration of the unique situation in each country and area.
Seven major strategic objectives of health resources were identified for the period 2001-2010:
•To develop a national policy for traditional medicine;
•To promote public awareness of and access to traditional medicine;
•To evaluate the economic potential of traditional medicine;
•To establish appropriate standards for traditional medicine;
•To encourage and strengthen research into evidence-based practice of traditional medicine;
•To foster respect for the cultural integrity of traditional medicine; and
•To formulate policies on the protection and conservation