Unveiling the book of Persian medicine-the official document of Persian medicine in Iran and delivering it to the WHO representative

Arman Zargaran

1Department of Traditional Pharmacy,School of Persian Medicine,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran.

Persian medicine is one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine that its history in Persia(Iran)dates back to at least 7000 years ago [1].This traditional medical system has a holistic approach to health care and treat and is based on humoral theory [2].Persian medicine was the main paradigm of medicine in Europe,west of Asia and some parts of Africa for centuries.It was flourished during Islamic Golden Age (9thto 13thcentury).In that time,great Persian physicians and pharmacists like Akhawayni,Rhazes,Avicenna,Haly Abbas,etc wrote important medical texts such as Canon of Medicine and Liber Continent which were taught as main medical references in the west and the east at least until 17thcentury[3].

In current era,Persian medicine can be used as one kind of traditional and complementary therapies by medical practitioners.In Iran,it is more than one decade that Persian medicine is accepted as a branch of medical practice and is taught as PhD program to the physicians who apply for this program.Also,there is another PhD program as“Traditional Pharmacy”available for pharmacists with PharmD degree.Iran follows WHO strategies for traditional medicine that indicates integrating traditional medicine with conventional medicine.Therefore,according to the Iranian academic program for traditional medicine,only physicians and pharmacists can be involved to PhD programs and use both conventional and traditional opportunities to serve best services to the patients[4].

On January 23 and 24,2019,the national congress of “Persian medicine: one decade of academic activities;the critique of the past and the future perspective” was held in Mashahad.During the first day of this congress,the official document of Persian medicine (Persian Medicine 2018) was unveiled by the presence of Dr.Velayati (the supreme leader adviser for international affairs),Dr.Harirchi (Deputy of Iranian Ministry of Health),Dr.Hamelmann(WHO representative in Iran),Dr.Khodadust(Director general of Persian medicine in Iranian Ministry of Health),Dr.Ahn (representative of department of traditional medicine in WHO headquarter) and many other authorities,faculties,students and researchers in the field of Persian medicine.This book was edited and written by Dr.Arman Zargaran,the assistant professor of traditional pharmacy at Tehran University of medical sciences and vice-general director for international affairs in Persian medicine office at Iranian Ministry of Health.

This document officially was delivered to representative of WHO headquarter as Iranian official document on the situation of traditional medicine in Iran.This book and the report of representative would be considered by the directorate of department of traditional medicine in WHO headquarter to be aware about Persian medicine practice and regulations in Iran.According to this visit,it is hoped to write and accept WHO’s benchmarks of education and practice for Persian medicine in near future.

In the rest of the 2 days congress,specialized committees considered the academic activities in the field of Persian medicine during last decade in Iran to find future perspective.