BIONAT 2018, which will take place from September 3 to 7, under the motto, ‘Science, Nature and Tradition for Life,’ will bring together professionals from Mexico, Japan, Brazil, Curacao, India, the United States, Chile, Norway, Argentina and the host nation, among other States.

The scientific sessions of the conclave will begin with the Symposium of Traditional Indigenous and Afro-Descendant Medicine, sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the president of the organizing committee, Evelyn Gonzalez, informed in a press conference.

Also, she added, will be held the 2nd Symposium of Integrative Medicine Cuba-Japan, with a large delegation from the Asian country, interested in knowing how natural and traditional medicine (MNT) is integrated into the National Health System (SNS) of the island.

As part of the event at the Havana Convention Center, a naturist nutritional orientation room will open its doors, where the 10 modalities of MNT regulated in our SNS will be presented, Gonzalez said.

The congress also includes symposiums of ozone therapy, traditional and complementary medicine in primary health care, and NTM from teaching, she expressed.

(Prensa Latina)

Speaking to ACN, Johann Perdomo Delgado, head of the Ministry of Health’s MNT department, confirmed that centers of this kind are based in Ar­temisa, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín and Santiago de Cuba.

He added that the certification process will be undertaken by the Center for State Control of Medicine Quality, Cuba’s medications governing body, founded in 1989 following the approval of a ministerial resolution.

Perdomo Delgado noted that the main objective of the process is to improve the centers’ infrastructure and technology, and ensure that they receive plant biomass from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Minsap representative also noted these raw materials contain elements essential to on-site and dispensary production of aloe vera, marigold, lime, passionflower, French oregano and pine products, among others.

Perdomo Delgado, MNT grade one and two specialist also noted that natural medications and traditional remedies were prescribed to millions of people during the first week of the year alone.

He stated that in addition to providing phytodrugs and bee-derived products, MNT also includes acupuncture and related techniques, homeopathy, flower-therapy, ozone-therapy, hydro-therapy (sun and sea water treatments) traditional therapeutic exercises, and nutritional health-food guidance services.

In 2011, the Center for State Control of Medicine Quality merged with the Center for State Control of Medical Devices to create the Center for State Control of Medicines, Medical Devices and Equipment, although it maintains its original acronym, Cecmed.

(Granma)