Briefing Note Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Health

BRIEFING NOTE FOR THE CEO OF HAPPY VALLEY HOSPITAL SYSTEM (HVHS)
INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONAL HEALTH INTO THE COMPONENTS OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
Purpose
The purpose of this briefing note is to inform the CEO of Happy Valley Hospital System (HVHS) on the ways of the ways in which HVHS can integrate Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Health into the components of health care delivery.
Background
This briefing note was prepared by the new Vice President (VP) of Quality and Integration at Happy Valley Hospital System (HVHS). At the last leadership meeting with the CEO and VPs of HVHS, the CEO indicated that she wishes to understand ways in which HVHS can integrate Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Health into the components of health care delivery. Therefore, the briefing note is prepared for the next meeting at the request of the CEO, and it summarizes the most important information the leadership team should know about Indigenous Knowledge and Health, and based on the components of integration, suggests and explains at least three recommendations that HVHS should consider in order to integrate Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Health into HVHS services and programs.
Indigenous knowledge and traditional health has become common in healthcare nowadays. The World Health Organization (W.H.O) has recognized the widespread dependence on traditional medicine and its importance in many communities. As a result, W.H.O is working with its member states towards promoting the integration of traditional medicine in healthcare delivery. According to W.H.O, integration of traditional knowledge and medicine in modern healthcare delivery is aimed at achieving the following goals;
Supporting and integrating traditional knowledge and medicine in national health care systems in combining national regulation and policy for practices, products, and providers.
Ensuring the use of efficient, safe, and quality practices and products, based on reliable evidence.
Acknowledging traditional medicine and knowledge as a crucial component of primary health care, increasing access to health care, and preserving resources and knowledge.
Enhancing the affordability, availability, and access of appropriate traditional medicine, focusing mainly on access for poor communities.
Ensuring patient safety through upgrading the knowledge and skills of the traditional medicine providers.
Modern healthcare providers in the UK health system have also noted the importance of integrating traditional medicine and knowledge in primary care. The integration is also aimed at achieving similar goals as outlined by W.H.O, on top of enhancing efficiency in the components of health care. However, there are various challenges facing traditional medicine and knowledge, such as legal cases arising from deaths after administration of traditional medicine. As such, this has also made it challenging to integrate traditional medicine in primary modern care.
In the UK, adoption and integration of traditional medicine in primary care remains a major challenge. Some of the challenges include that it is underfunded and opposed in such cases. The main reason for its rejection is that there have been various cases of deaths arising due to tr...