KOREA - TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

  

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

National TM policy since 1969; 

TM/CAM unit or department within ministry of health: 
 Oriental Medicie Bureau;

 

Regulation of herbal products products industry: 
Regulation — Yes - Pharmacopoeia includes herbs; 

Human TM resources:  
Oriental doctors             9.914
 Acupuncturists;             4.500

Practice at all levels including public hospitals (i.e. if practised in public hospitals, TM/CAM are integrated into national health system:  
107 oriental medical hospitals and 6 590 local oriental medical clinics;

Health insurance coverage for treatment and products:  
 Full; 

One national research institute;

Official education at university  level that covers both TM and AM for doctors, pharmacists and nurses: 
11 oriental medicine universities
The three systems of WHO

To describe the degree of official recognition of traditional medicine, the WHO has defined three systems.
 In a Integrative System the  
TM/CAM are officially recognized and incorporated into all areas of health care.  
They are included in the national drug policy; providers and products are registered and regulated; therapies are available in hospitals and clinics, public and private; treatment is reimbursed by health insurance and there is teaching and research of TM/CAM. China, North Korea, South Korea and Vietnam are some examples.

WHO 2002