|
 Understanding the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034
Glossary, Vision, Purpose and Objectives
The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 sets a new framework for integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into health systems. Understanding its core concepts—terminology, vision, purpose, and strategic objectives—is essential for positioning hydrotherapy and balneology within global health policies.
The adoption of the “WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034” marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) within global health systems. It provides a structured and forward-looking framework aimed at enhancing the contribution of TCIM to universal health coverage, public health, and sustainable development.
For FEMTEC, which is in official relations with the WHO TCIM Unit, a clear understanding of the Strategy’s conceptual foundation is essential. This includes its glossary of terms, overarching vision, defined purpose, and strategic objectives, which together shape the global discourse and future directions of the field.
1. A Common Language: The Importance of the Glossary
One of the key elements of the Strategy is the establishment of a harmonized glossary of terms. The WHO emphasizes the need for a shared and precise vocabulary to facilitate communication, research, regulation, and policy development across countries and disciplines.
Core concepts include:
- Traditional Medicine (TM): Knowledge, skills and practices based on indigenous cultural traditions;
- Complementary Medicine (CM): Practices used alongside conventional medicine;
- Integrative Medicine (IM): Coordinated use of conventional and traditional approaches in a patient-centered framework.
While these definitions provide a necessary foundation, an important gap remains: hydrotherapy and balneotherapy are not explicitly defined or classified within this glossary. This absence highlights the urgent need for an internationally agreed terminology, aligned with WHO classification systems such as ICHI, ICD-11 and ICF.
2. Vision: Holistic and Inclusive Health Paradigm
It refers to universal access to safe, effective and people-centred traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). The aims of the strategy are to address existing challenges across multiple domains, integrate safe and effective TCIM as appropriate into health systems and advance the contribution of TCIM to the highest attainable standard of health.
This vision resonates strongly with the principles of balneology and hydrotherapy, which inherently adopt a holistic approach, addressing physical, mental, and environmental determinants of health. It also aligns with contemporary priorities such as healthy ageing and the management of non-communicable diseases.
3. Purpose: Strengthening Health Systems through TCIM
The stated purpose of the Strategy is to support Member States in:
- Developing evidence-based policies;
- Ensuring quality, safety, and efficacy;
- Promoting equitable access;
- Strengthening health system integration.
In this context, hydrotherapy and balneotherapy represent valuable yet underutilized resources. Their integration into health systems requires not only scientific validation but also structural recognition within international classification frameworks.
4. Strategic Objectives: Four Pillars for Action
The Strategy is structured around four key objectives:
1. Evidence and Knowledge
Advancing research, data collection, and knowledge exchange.
2. Regulation and Quality Assurance
Establishing standards for safety, training, and service delivery.
3. Integration into Health Systems
Embedding TCIM into national health policies and services.
4. Sustainable Development and Equity
Ensuring access while preserving natural and cultural resources.
These objectives provide a clear pathway for action. However, their full implementation requires that all relevant therapeutic modalities—including hydrotherapy—are clearly defined, classified, and measurable.
FEMTEC Perspective: Bridging a Critical Gap
As a global organization dedicated to hydrotherapy and climatotherapy, FEMTEC recognizes both the strengths and the limitations of the current Strategy.
The absence of explicit references to hydrotherapy and balneology is not merely a terminological issue—it represents a structural gap with implications for:
- Research visibility
- Policy inclusion
- Health system integration
Addressing this gap requires a collaborative technical process with WHO support, aimed at:
- Establishing internationally accepted definitions
- Aligning with WHO classifications (ICHI, ICD-11, ICF)
- Demonstrating public health impact through evidence
Looking Ahead
The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 provides a solid foundation for advancing TCIM worldwide. At the same time, it opens a window of opportunity for the global balneology community to contribute actively to its development.
The 77th FEMTEC International Congress (Aix-les-Bains, 4-6 November 2026) will serve as a key platform for advancing this dialogue, including efforts toward an international consensus on the definition and classification of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy in alignment with WHO frameworks.
References
1. World Health Organization. WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034. Geneva: WHO; 2025.
2. World Health Organization. International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). Geneva: WHO.
3. World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). Geneva: WHO.
4. World Health Organization. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Geneva: WHO.
Assoc. Prof. Olga SURDU, MD, PhD
President FEMTEC |
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
|
|
|
Understanding the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034
Glossary, Vision, Purpose and Objectives
The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 sets a new framework for integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into health systems. Understanding its core concepts—terminology, vision, purpose, and strategic objectives—is essential for positioning hydrotherapy and balneology within global health policies.
The adoption of the “WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034” marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) within global health systems. It provides a structured and forward-looking framework aimed at enhancing the contribution of TCIM to universal health coverage, public health, and sustainable development.
For FEMTEC, which is in official relations with the WHO TCIM Unit, a clear understanding of the Strategy’s conceptual foundation is essential. This includes its glossary of terms, overarching vision, defined purpose, and strategic objectives, which together shape the global discourse and future directions of the field.
1. A Common Language: The Importance of the Glossary
One of the key elements of the Strategy is the establishment of a harmonized glossary of terms. The WHO emphasizes the need for a shared and precise vocabulary to facilitate communication, research, regulation, and policy development across countries and disciplines.
Core concepts include:
- Traditional Medicine (TM): Knowledge, skills and practices based on indigenous cultural traditions;
- Complementary Medicine (CM): Practices used alongside conventional medicine;
- Integrative Medicine (IM): Coordinated use of conventional and traditional approaches in a patient-centered framework.
While these definitions provide a necessary foundation, an important gap remains: hydrotherapy and balneotherapy are not explicitly defined or classified within this glossary. This absence highlights the urgent need for an internationally agreed terminology, aligned with WHO classification systems such as ICHI, ICD-11 and ICF.
2. Vision: Holistic and Inclusive Health Paradigm
It refers to universal access to safe, effective and people-centred traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). The aims of the strategy are to address existing challenges across multiple domains, integrate safe and effective TCIM as appropriate into health systems and advance the contribution of TCIM to the highest attainable standard of health.
This vision resonates strongly with the principles of balneology and hydrotherapy, which inherently adopt a holistic approach, addressing physical, mental, and environmental determinants of health. It also aligns with contemporary priorities such as healthy ageing and the management of non-communicable diseases.
3. Purpose: Strengthening Health Systems through TCIM
The stated purpose of the Strategy is to support Member States in:
- Developing evidence-based policies;
- Ensuring quality, safety, and efficacy;
- Promoting equitable access;
- Strengthening health system integration.
In this context, hydrotherapy and balneotherapy represent valuable yet underutilized resources. Their integration into health systems requires not only scientific validation but also structural recognition within international classification frameworks.
4. Strategic Objectives: Four Pillars for Action
The Strategy is structured around four key objectives:
1. Evidence and Knowledge
Advancing research, data collection, and knowledge exchange.
2. Regulation and Quality Assurance
Establishing standards for safety, training, and service delivery.
3. Integration into Health Systems
Embedding TCIM into national health policies and services.
4. Sustainable Development and Equity
Ensuring access while preserving natural and cultural resources.
These objectives provide a clear pathway for action. However, their full implementation requires that all relevant therapeutic modalities—including hydrotherapy—are clearly defined, classified, and measurable.
FEMTEC Perspective: Bridging a Critical Gap
As a global organization dedicated to hydrotherapy and climatotherapy, FEMTEC recognizes both the strengths and the limitations of the current Strategy.
The absence of explicit references to hydrotherapy and balneology is not merely a terminological issue—it represents a structural gap with implications for:
- Research visibility
- Policy inclusion
- Health system integration
Addressing this gap requires a collaborative technical process with WHO support, aimed at:
- Establishing internationally accepted definitions
- Aligning with WHO classifications (ICHI, ICD-11, ICF)
- Demonstrating public health impact through evidence
Looking Ahead
The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 provides a solid foundation for advancing TCIM worldwide. At the same time, it opens a window of opportunity for the global balneology community to contribute actively to its development.
The 77th FEMTEC International Congress (Aix-les-Bains, 4-6 November 2026) will serve as a key platform for advancing this dialogue, including efforts toward an international consensus on the definition and classification of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy in alignment with WHO frameworks.
References
1. World Health Organization. WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034. Geneva: WHO; 2025.
2. World Health Organization. International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). Geneva: WHO.
3. World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). Geneva: WHO.
4. World Health Organization. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Geneva: WHO.
Assoc. Prof. Olga SURDU, MD, PhD
President FEMTEC |
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
|
|
Understanding the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034
Glossary, Vision, Purpose and Objectives
The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 sets a new framework for integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into health systems. Understanding its core concepts—terminology, vision, purpose, and strategic objectives—is essential for positioning hydrotherapy and balneology within global health policies.
The adoption of the “WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034” marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) within global health systems. It provides a structured and forward-looking framework aimed at enhancing the contribution of TCIM to universal health coverage, public health, and sustainable development.
For FEMTEC, which is in official relations with the WHO TCIM Unit, a clear understanding of the Strategy’s conceptual foundation is essential. This includes its glossary of terms, overarching vision, defined purpose, and strategic objectives, which together shape the global discourse and future directions of the field.
1. A Common Language: The Importance of the Glossary
One of the key elements of the Strategy is the establishment of a harmonized glossary of terms. The WHO emphasizes the need for a shared and precise vocabulary to facilitate communication, research, regulation, and policy development across countries and disciplines.
Core concepts include:
- Traditional Medicine (TM): Knowledge, skills and practices based on indigenous cultural traditions;
- Complementary Medicine (CM): Practices used alongside conventional medicine;
- Integrative Medicine (IM): Coordinated use of conventional and traditional approaches in a patient-centered framework.
While these definitions provide a necessary foundation, an important gap remains: hydrotherapy and balneotherapy are not explicitly defined or classified within this glossary. This absence highlights the urgent need for an internationally agreed terminology, aligned with WHO classification systems such as ICHI, ICD-11 and ICF.
2. Vision: Holistic and Inclusive Health Paradigm
It refers to universal access to safe, effective and people-centred traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). The aims of the strategy are to address existing challenges across multiple domains, integrate safe and effective TCIM as appropriate into health systems and advance the contribution of TCIM to the highest attainable standard of health.
This vision resonates strongly with the principles of balneology and hydrotherapy, which inherently adopt a holistic approach, addressing physical, mental, and environmental determinants of health. It also aligns with contemporary priorities such as healthy ageing and the management of non-communicable diseases.
3. Purpose: Strengthening Health Systems through TCIM
The stated purpose of the Strategy is to support Member States in:
- Developing evidence-based policies;
- Ensuring quality, safety, and efficacy;
- Promoting equitable access;
- Strengthening health system integration.
In this context, hydrotherapy and balneotherapy represent valuable yet underutilized resources. Their integration into health systems requires not only scientific validation but also structural recognition within international classification frameworks.
4. Strategic Objectives: Four Pillars for Action
The Strategy is structured around four key objectives:
1. Evidence and Knowledge
Advancing research, data collection, and knowledge exchange.
2. Regulation and Quality Assurance
Establishing standards for safety, training, and service delivery.
3. Integration into Health Systems
Embedding TCIM into national health policies and services.
4. Sustainable Development and Equity
Ensuring access while preserving natural and cultural resources.
These objectives provide a clear pathway for action. However, their full implementation requires that all relevant therapeutic modalities—including hydrotherapy—are clearly defined, classified, and measurable.
FEMTEC Perspective: Bridging a Critical Gap
As a global organization dedicated to hydrotherapy and climatotherapy, FEMTEC recognizes both the strengths and the limitations of the current Strategy.
The absence of explicit references to hydrotherapy and balneology is not merely a terminological issue—it represents a structural gap with implications for:
- Research visibility
- Policy inclusion
- Health system integration
Addressing this gap requires a collaborative technical process with WHO support, aimed at:
- Establishing internationally accepted definitions
- Aligning with WHO classifications (ICHI, ICD-11, ICF)
- Demonstrating public health impact through evidence
Looking Ahead
The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 provides a solid foundation for advancing TCIM worldwide. At the same time, it opens a window of opportunity for the global balneology community to contribute actively to its development.
The 77th FEMTEC International Congress (Aix-les-Bains, 4-6 November 2026) will serve as a key platform for advancing this dialogue, including efforts toward an international consensus on the definition and classification of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy in alignment with WHO frameworks.
References
1. World Health Organization. WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034. Geneva: WHO; 2025.
2. World Health Organization. International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). Geneva: WHO.
3. World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). Geneva: WHO.
4. World Health Organization. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Geneva: WHO.
Assoc. Prof. Olga SURDU, MD, PhD
President FEMTEC |
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
|
|
|
