The integration of traditional medicine among community-based health programmes in the Philippines.

Abstract

Much progress has been made in the rediscovery of traditional medicine and its potential for strengthening primary health care (PHC) programs. This is reflected in the nongovernmental organizations community-based health programs (CBHP) which actively employ traditional medical practicioners and promote the utilization of traditional therapies. An important component of CBHP today is an intensification of research and documentation on the traditional medical systems that exist in the Philippines. 20 non-governmental CBHPs were surveyed by mail from Nov. 1983 to August 1984 covering all major regions and rural urban and peri-urban areas. Results reveal that CBHPs are moving toward integration of traditional medicine into their health programs. While the government officially promotes traditional medicine some CBHP personnel have cited the growing problem of harassment from village officials and military forces whenever the health workers promote the use of medicinal plants or acupuncture. This is because the New Peoples Army (NPA) of the insurgents is known to use these traditional therapies. Health care workers express ambivalent attitudes in their evaluation of traditional medicine. While recognizing the value of empirical practices such as the use medicinal plants health personnel tend to be more cynical about other therapeutic modes particularly where magical or religious elements are involved. The ambivalence is also attributed in some instances to the health workers own lack of familiarity with traditional beliefs and practices. Health workers also express reservations about the competence of traditional practitioners. The Philippine government is currently promoting the use of medicinal plants on account of the economic crisis. The campaign however may not make headway in certain areas such as urban slum communities were promoting backyard cultivation medicinal plants is impractical since urban poor families have no backyards.