The World Chiropractic Alliance met in Geneva with officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the development of several documents that will address international guidelines for chiropractic.

Matthew McCoy, D.C., a member of the WCA International Board of Governors and Chairman of the WCA Council on Chiropractic Clinical Sciences, discussed the issue with key WHO officials during the 55th World Health Assembly in June.

The WCA's invitation to the meeting came from Dr. Xiaorui Zhang, WHO team coordinator for Traditional Medicine. Dr. Zhang has met with WCA representatives in the past and recently oversaw the development of a document on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture that was published by the WHO in 1999.

The meeting on chiropractic guidelines came as a result of the release of WHO's "Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005," a document unveiled during a "Technical Briefing on Traditional Medicine" held during the World Health Assembly.

In the document, WHO attempts to define its role in Traditional Medicine (TM), and complimentary and alternative medicine -- and develop a strategy to address issues of policy, safety, efficacy, quality, access and rational use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine.

According to WHO, the strategy was developed through broad consultation with WHO Regional Offices and Member States, WHO Expert Committees and Collaborating Centres for Traditional Medicine, as well as through work with a broad range of partners with diverse interests in traditional medicine.

The strategy provides a diverse framework for action for WHO and its partners to enable traditional medicine to play a far greater role in reducing excess mortality and morbidity, especially among impoverished populations.

Dr. McCoy met with Yukiko Maruyama the technical officer for Traditional Medicine and Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy of WHO. They discussed WHO's TM Strategy and the steps and help necessary for WHO to develop guidelines for chiropractic.

These guidelines would be used to assist nations of the world in developing policies for the introduction of chiropractic into their health care systems.

"This is actually part of WHO's Strategy," McCoy explained. "They obviously realize the value of Traditional Medicine in health promotion and they have placed chiropractic under the umbrella of Traditional Medicine along with other health care such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine etc."

According to WHO, "populations throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America use Traditional Medicine to help meet their primary health care needs. As well as being accessible and affordable, TM is also often part of a wider belief system, and considered integral to everyday life and well-being. Meanwhile, in Australia, Europe and North America, 'complementary and alternative medicine' (CAM) is increasingly used in parallel to allopathic medicine, particularly for treating and managing chronic disease. Concern about the adverse effects of chemical medicines, a desire for more personalized health care and greater public access to health information, fuel this increased use."

As of 2000, 25 countries reported having a national TM policy. Such a policy provides a sound basis for defining the role of TM in national health care delivery, ensuring that the necessary regulatory and legal mechanisms are created for promoting and maintaining good practice, that access is equitable and that the authenticity, safety and efficacy of therapies are assured.

"If ever chiropractic needed a research base, it's right now. This is one of those defining moments when everything that's ever been done -- or hasn't been done for that matter -- catches up with you," reflected McCoy, who serves as editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research and chairman of the Guidelines Committee of the Council on Chiropractic Practice.

Commenting on the WCA's collaboration with WHO, Christopher Kent, D.C., the organization's main liaison to the United Nations Department of Public Information, stated, "According to WHO, the common basis of Traditional Medicine is 'an holistic approach to life, equilibrium between the mind, body and their environment, and an emphasis on health rather than on disease. Generally, the provider focuses on the overall condition of the individual patient, rather than on the particular ailment or the disease from which the patient is suffering. This more complex approach to health care makes TM very attractive to many. But it also makes scientific evaluation highly difficult since so many factors must be taken into account.'"

Dr. Kent also noted that WHO's perspective is consistent with traditional chiropractic philosophy, principles and practice. "We are excited to work closely with them to assist in the development of their guidelines," he said.

Originally, the meeting was to have been held with the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) and Dr. Zhang had expressed her pleasure at the possibility of the two organizations working together with WHO on the guidelines.

However, the WFC requested a separate meeting rather than participate in a joint discussion with the WCA. Afterwards, David Chapman-Smith, Secretary-General of the WFC acknowledged that "there were sound reasons for separate meetings, that this was in accordance with protocol agreed by relevant WHO officials." He also stated that "no attempt was made by the WFC to prevent meetings between representatives of WHO and the Alliance."

Although he did not explain why his group changed the meeting arrangements without warning, he noted that "the WFC well understands what best serves the interests of the chiropractic profession in its communications with the World Health Organization, a matter on which the WFC has many years of experience and success."

McCoy expressed disappointment about the change in plans.

"I had looked forward to a productive and cooperative discussion with the WFC delegates, one that could have resulted in a great deal of progress on these important issues," he stated. "At a time when chiropractic organizations are trying hard to put aside their differences for the good of the profession, the WCA looked forward to what could have been a powerful statement of chiropractic unity. Perhaps in the future, the WFC would be willing to join us in our work with the WHO on these issues."

Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, echoed McCoy's sentiments.

"The WCA is eager to make chiropractic an integral part of the global health care vision and we have no objection to working with the WFC or any other legitimate chiropractic organization to make that dream a reality."

The WCA has a long history of cooperation with the United Nations and WHO and in 1998 was granted status as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information.

The WCA made the first-ever chiropractic presentations at the International Conference of NGOs in Seoul, Korea; met with the director of External Cooperation and Relations; gave presentations on licensing and the legal status of chiropractic worldwide; and held a session on chiropractic and women's health at the annual Assembly of the Commission on the Status of Women.