The Integrative and Anatolian Medicine Congress Was Held in Bursa in Cooperation with TİKA

The Integrative and Anatolian Medicine Congress was held by the University of Health Sciences and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Bursa.  

The Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Congress was held in Bursa, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World for 2022, and attended by First Lady Emine Erdoğan; Fahrettin Koca, Minister of Health; and Vahit Kirişçi, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

Held from May 13 to 15, 2022, the Congress focused on scientific topics such as Anatolian medicine and Anatolian folk medicine, holistic approach to health, acupuncture, cupping, apitherapy, phytotherapy, hypnosis, ozone applications, music therapy, reflexology, and functional medicine. The Congress featured 125 speakers and 35 panel discussions with workshops in 14 fields.

First Lady Emine Erdoğan delivered a speech and said, “There is now a great demand in traditional and complementary medicine all over the world, as this method considers individuals within the framework of their mental and bodily integrity. It is based on preventive medicine. However, it is extremely important to carry out TCM practices on scientific and academic grounds. Our country has potential and heritage in this context. I am confident that Türkiye will become a leading country in TCM practices and a center of attraction for the whole world in this field.”

In his speech, Fahrettin Koca, Minister of Health, said, “The use of traditional medicine methods, which are the historical heritage of humanity, is becoming more and more widespread. Reduced quality of life due to increasing life expectancy and chronic diseases and the search for solutions to many physical, social, and psychological problems caused by modern living conditions increase the interest in traditional and complementary medicine practices. The share of traditional and complementary medicine practices is increasing in preventive medicine and treatment processes. The reduction in health expenditures offered by the holistic approach attracts people and governments. Therefore, traditional medicine practices occupy an increasingly larger place in the health systems of countries. Anatolia, which is the birthplace of ancient medicine, has a rich heritage of traditional medicine practices. As Türkiye, we strive to build an evidence-based and reliable ground for this rich heritage and possibilities for the benefit of our people and the entire humanity.”

Vahit Kirişçi, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said, “There are nearly 425,000 known species of plants, including 50 to 70 thousand medicinal plant species, across the world. The number of medicinal plant species traded is 2,000 in the world and nearly 500 in Europe. The production of these plants and their use in the pharmaceutical industry is increasing every year. It is extremely important that our country adds the highest value to this richness and acquires a higher share in this market. We are the world’s main supplier of laurel, thyme, and cumin. We are the world leader in the exports of thyme and laurel. We meet 90 percent and 80 percent of the global need for laurel and thyme, respectively. We are also an important supplier of sage, rosemary, and anise. We have fully insured the majority of medicinal aromatic plants with TARSİM in order to cover the losses of our growers caused by natural disasters and ensure sustainability in agriculture. We also provided optional frost coverage for rose species cultivated for oil production. We support the processing, storage, and packaging of medicinal aromatic plants in order to contribute to rural development.”

Specialists and prominent figures from Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan attended the congress, which was held with the support of TİKA, and said that they were happy to be there. Furthermore, a protocol for cooperation was signed between the University of Health Sciences and specialists from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan at the congress.