INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Abstract

Long disregarded by “western medicine”, “traditional medicine”, which retains strong cultural links in many parts of the world, has been exported for twenty years as an alternative medicine in western countries. Its place today oscillates between a claim for recognition by emerging and developing countries while countries where technical medicine is triumphant are mainly concerned about risks to public health or the discovery of new drugs. Therefore political strategies, sometimes opposed, are emerging arousing both nationally and internationally the development of “legal strategies” to take better account of this ancient heritage with high potential development.