It’s often said that we live in a post-truth era, where feelings reign supreme over facts, and every belief, no matter how outlandish, merits consideration. For a time, there was a naïve assumption that the medical establishment, dealing with matters of life and death, was insulated from such relativistic thinking. We were sadly mistaken. As a telling reflection of the times, the World Health Organization recently endorsed pseudoscientific “traditional medicine” such as acupuncture, ayurveda, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy, potentially compromising the WHO’s scientific integrity.
Traditional medicine, which spans practices from ancient herbal treatments to spiritual rituals, undoubtedly holds historical and cultural significance for many societies. But there’s a vast difference between respecting tradition and positioning it as a scientifically validated alternative to modern medicine.
In its attempt to be inclusive, the WHO is veering dangerously close to affirming all cultural practices as equally valid and efficacious in the medical sphere. This doesn’t just undermine decades of medical research; it’s a disservice to those very communities it seeks to uplift.
Respect for tradition shouldn’t come at the expense of common sense. The WHO must remember its responsibility. It isn’t there to propitiate every cultural whim but to promote medical practices that have been proven effective through rigorous research and testing. When it comes to health, we mustn’t let political correctness overshadow scientific truth.