Trinidad and Tobago has announced a strategic initiative to formally incorporate traditional medicine practices into its national public health framework. The declaration came from Dr. Rishad Seecheran, Minister in the Ministry of Health, during his address at the second World Health Organization Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.
Dr. Seecheran emphasized that global health systems face increasing pressure to develop greater resilience, cultural responsiveness, and equity. He positioned traditional medicine not as an alternative approach but as a valuable complementary component that could enhance universal health coverage objectives. The minister characterized traditional medicine as representing ‘centuries of accumulated knowledge, practices and beliefs deeply rooted in culture and community life.’
The government’s approach acknowledges the existing reality that many citizens already combine traditional remedies with conventional Western treatments. Rather than disregarding this practice, policymakers are developing standardized regulations for traditional medicine products, practices, and practitioners. This regulatory framework will prioritize safety protocols and quality control measures.
Supporting this integration will be increased investment in scientific research to validate traditional approaches. Trinidad and Tobago also plans to collaborate with international agencies to build specialized human resource capacity and identify integration models tailored to local requirements. Dr. Seecheran commended the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy for providing guidance on evidence-based policy development in this field.