Integration of traditional medicine with modern

The integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine
may have three different meanings.
First, it may mean incorporation of traditional medicine into
the general health service system. The government recognizes the
practice of traditional medicine and the use of traditional medicine
is incorporated into the mainstream of health service system. In the
Region, traditional medicine has been an integral part of formal
health service system in several countries, albeit in different forms.
Second, it may mean integration of the practice of traditional
medicine with that of modern medicine. In fact, many medical
doctors who have adequate knowledge of traditional medicine have
tried to incorporate remedies used by traditional medicine into their
daily work. In some places, traditional and modern medicine are
practised side by side. Studies have also shown that many patients
use both traditional and modern medicine.
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TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MEDICINE: HARMONIZING THE TWO APPROACHES
Third, it may mean the integration of traditional and modern
medicine as two branches of medical science. Although traditional
and modern medicines have developed in different cultural contexts
and are at different stages of scientific development, they have many
similarities. Efforts have been made to synthesize the two branches,
in order to form a new branch of medical science, incorporating
elements of both. However, at this stage this would appear to be a
difficult task.