Integrative Medicine & Healthcare

Integrative Medicine & Healthcare combines conventional medicine with complementary and traditional approaches, including both conventional and traditional medicinal products, to achieve optimum health and well-being for patients. This trend has seen an increase of interest at EU level.

• Two recent reports from the European Parliament recognise the benefits of integrative medicine, stressing the importance of developing ‘a holistic, integrative and patient-centric approach’ and encouraging the use of complementary therapies where appropriate.

• The European Parliament adopted the Resolution on a Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, calling for measures to address the disparities in access to high quality healthcare services in the EU, and to guarantee the right of patients to universal, affordable, effective, safe and timely access to essential and innovative medicines. This Resolution also addresses the importance of an integrative approach to medicine, highlighting ‘the fact that scientifically recognised integrative medicine approved by  public health authorities can bring benefits to patients in relation to the parallel effects of several diseases, such as cancer, and their treatment’, stressing ‘the importance of developing a holistic, integrative and patient-centred approach’  and encouraging, where appropriate, ‘the complementary use of these therapies under the supervision of healthcare professionals.’

• On 16 February, the European Parliament adopted a  Resolution on Strengthening Europe in the Fight against Cancer, proposing priorities and actions to the European Commission on the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.  This report encourages the use of complementary medicine in oncology, citing the same text as before.

• The European Parliament Interest Group on Integrative Medicine & Health brings together Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to promote Integrative Medicine & Health in European public health policy. It holds regular meetings on a range of topics. Co-chairs are MEPs Sirpa Pietikäinen, Michèle Rivasi, Tilly Metz, Margrete Auken, Romana Jerkovic and Manuela Ripa.
• A series of events in the European Parliament:
• Benefits and results of Complementary Integrative Medicine therapies - Webinar of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Health Working Group webinar, chaired by Sara Cerdas MEP (S&D, P) and Dolors Montserrat MEP (EPP, ES).
• The European Parliament Interest Group on Integrative Medicine & Health online event Integrative Medicine and Health in Pain Management, organised by EUROCAM in cooperation with Pain Alliance Europe. The event was moderated by Tilly Metz MEP (Greens/EFA, L). 
• Integrative oncology: the European Parliament Interest Group on Integrative Medicine & Health event, Integrative Oncology: the holistic approach to cancer care, organised by EUROCAM, with leading experts in the field of integrative oncology and Members of the European Parliament. The event was moderated by Michèle Rivasi MEP (Greens/EFA, F).
• Online discussion, Integrative Oncology – the missing link in Europe’s beating cancer plan was introduced by Dolors Montserrat MEP (EPP, ES) and Birgitta Sacrédeus (EPP, SE). 
• Integrative Medicine and Health in Covid-19 and Long Covid
• Integrative Mental Health - the way forward
• Integrative Oncology – Best practices for a patient-centred cancer care

ECHAMP welcomes the growing recognition at EU level of the role and contribution of integrative medicine. The new trend opens up a world in which the potential of our sector can be better understood and exploited.

For further information

• Integrative Medicine & Health - the position of EUROCAM
• Integrative Medicine & Health

For further information

•  Integrative Medicine and Health - the position of EUROCAM