Participants at workshop in Macao SAR
An interregional training workshop has taken place in the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (Macao SAR), bringing together health officials, regulators and experts from across WHO regions. The workshop aimed to strengthen Member State capacity to ensure the quality and safety of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) practices and practitioners, contributing to universal health coverage and stronger health systems.
Supported by the Government of Macao SAR, WHO held the Interregional Training Workshop on Ensuring the Quality and Safety of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Practice and Practitioners from 10 to 12 June 2026.
Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, highlighted the significance of the event, noting that, “the central question is no longer whether traditional medicine should be part of health systems, but how it can be advanced responsibly, in ways that safeguard quality and safety while responding to population needs.”
Participants included representatives from Member States across six WHO regions, reflecting a broad spectrum of regulatory and health system contexts. The workshop addressed key areas such as policy and regulation, service delivery models, and education and training of practitioners, with a strong emphasis on ensuring quality, safety and public trust. These discussions supported implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and aligned with WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work.
Dr Lo Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau of the Government of Macao SAR, reaffirmed Macao’s long-standing collaboration with WHO and its commitment to advancing traditional medicine, noting that the city continues to serve as a bridge for international exchange and cooperation.
Through expert-led sessions, country presentations and group discussions, participants explored practical approaches to strengthening regulatory frameworks, improving practitioner competence, and enhancing safe service delivery. The workshop provided a platform for countries to share experiences, identify common challenges and build technical capacity through peer learning and global cooperation. The workshop also gave WHO an opportunity to hear directly from Member States and better understand their priority needs.
The three-day training also included opportunities for participants to engage with traditional Chinese medicine practices and cultural activities in Macao, offering insights into how traditional medicine is integrated into local health services and community health promotion.
The Government of Macao SAR established the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine in 2015, and since then has partnered closely with WHO to organize a longstanding series of interregional training workshops. The 2026 workshop marks the 18th in this series, continuing a strong commitment to global capacity-building and knowledge exchange.
