Some aspects of traditional Mongolian medicine research / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

BackgroundTraditional Mongolian Medicine has a history of over 5000 years. Scientific development of TM hasstarted in 1959. Since 1999 Mongolia was categorized by WHO as a country having an Integrativesystem of TM- officially recognized and incorporated into all areas of health care provision, TMMresearch has been following key objectives of National R&D programs.AimIn order to assess the situation of TMM development we have conducted this study based on last10 years’ research done.Ìaterial and MethodsDocument study- we have selected key TMM’s R&D project implementers’ archive and humanresources documents.Descriptive and Analytic methods- a survey of 32 questions evaluating participation of TMMprofessionals in R&D work were conducted. Also, to clarify the point of view about TMM’s R&D6 focus group meetings with different level participants, such as professional committee, policymakers and research workers as well as health care providers, were organized.ResultsFrom 2004-2013, there are 28 projects implemented on TMM, 43% accomplished by TMMRTC,32.8% of which is resulting in raw materials standardization and technology study, related clinicalstudies standing 20% out of all studies done on TMM matter. These numbers are confirmed bysurvey and focus group interviews, more than 50% of participants willing to conduct a clinical studyand expressing difficulties such as lack of knowledge of methodology, policy support and revenue.Conclusions:1. TMM R&D has a potential growth due to human resources capacity. Practitioners are leastinvolved in R&D, due to lack of knowledge of methodology and revenue.2. There were 28 projects implemented on TMM matter, most of these are basic studies, fewerclinical studies done, resulting in pharmacopeia monographs and technological guidelines.