Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into the Czech healthcare system: possibilities, benefits, risks, and detection of some ethical dilemmas
Abstract
Background: Ethical principles should play a key role in the decision-making process regarding public health. One of the topics that prompt lively ethics discussions is the integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into the national healthcare system.
With the growing demand for CAM approaches, the number of countries integrating these methods into the national healthcare system, thus following the recommendations of The WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023, has increased over the past years. However, the degree of CAM integration varies broadly and is often influenced by the regulation of particular methods or their integration within the education system in each country.
Discussions regarding the regulation of CAM have been repeatedly held in the Czech Republic, however, no legislation or other measures have been adopted. Rather than raising the matter of possible integration within the Czech healthcare system, it seems that ethical concerns are at the center of attention.
Contrarily, in the UK, some of the CAM methods are already integrated within the National Health Service (NHS). Aim of the study: This study explores professionals' experiences and views of CAM integration within the NHS in the context of ethics.
The main aim is to find out in which circumstances, according to professionals based in the UK, it is ethically acceptable to integrate a particular CAM method into healthcare. Methods: Semi-structured expert interviews with professionals experienced in both CAM and biomedical fields were conducted.
The outline of the interview was based on questions arising from the Czech literature review regarding the topic of CAM and ethics. Sampling was purposive and a framework analysis will be performed.