[EBOOK] WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants (VOLUME 3), World Health Organization (WHO)

Increasing role of the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants

Since 1999, WHO has published two volumes of the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. Volume 1 includes 28 monographs and volume 2 contains an additional 30 monographs. Both of these volumes are now available on the WHO web site http://www.who.int/medicines/ organization/trm/orgtrmstrat.htm).

Despite the increasing use of herbal medicines, there is still a significant lack of research data in this field, so that the WHO monographs are playing an increasingly important role. For example, in the recent WHO global survey on national policy and regulation of herbal medicines, of the 34 countries reporting that they do not have their own national monographs and use other monographs, 13 use the WHO monographs as an authoritative reference. Moreover, the format of the WHO monographs continues to be commonly used for developing national monographs. In the same survey, of the 46 countries that have already developed national monographs on herbal medicines, several countries, such as Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Malaysia, and Myanmar, reported having used the WHO format as a basis.

In May 2002, WHO launched its Traditional Medicine Strategy covering the period 2002-2005. In 2003, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA56.31 on traditional medicine, which requests WHO to seek, together with WHO collaborating centres, evidence-based information on the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of traditional therapies. The objective is to provide guidance to Member States on the definition of products to be included in national directives and proposals on traditional-medicine policy implemented in national health systems. The continued development of the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants is one of the important activities being undertaken to meet the demands from Member States and in the implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategv.

Preparation of monographs for volume 3

During the preparation of volume 3, more than 170 experts were involved, in addition to members of WHO's Expert Advisory Panel on Traditional Medicine, a significant expansion in comparison to the numbers involved in the first two volumes. National drug regulatory authorities in 65 countries participated in the process, again a greater number than for the previous volumes. This global network of active players facilitated wider access to the available scientific references and information, in terms of both quality and quantity. This considerable level of support contributed greatly to the efficiency of the preparation process.

The Third WHO Consultation on Selected Medicinal Plants was held in Ottawa, Canada, in July 2001 to review and finalize the draft monographs. Thirty-two experts and drug regulatorv authorities from WHO Member States participated (Annex 1). Following extensive discussion, 31 of the 33 draft monographs were adopted for inclusion.

At the subsequent tenth International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities held in China, Hong Kong special Administrative Region in June 2002, the 31 draft monographs adopted for volume 3 of the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants were presented. In its recommendations, the Conference requested WHO to publish them as soon as possible.

[EBOOK] WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants (VOLUME 3), World Health Organization (WHO)

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