Traditional alternative and complementary medicine: a review of undergraduate courses and curricula in Peru

Juan Huaccho-Rojas; Leonardo J. Uribe-Cavero; Angie Diaz-Mejía; Mabel R. Challapa-Mamani; Marisella Chumán-Sánchez; Oswaldo N. Vite-Gutierrez; Jeremy Yauri-Mamani; Omar C. Bellota-Segovia; Paula Regina Durand-Anahua; Yahaira M. Mamani-Ticona; Zulema Mamani-Condori; Kelly Alarcon-Ore; Kevin Anthony Martínez-Solís; Jair Noé Navarro-Cahuaza; Dante M. Quiñones-Laveriano; Martha Villar-López

doi:10.1515/jcim-2024-0416

Article

Traditional alternative and complementary medicine: a review of undergraduate courses and curricula in Peru

Juan Huaccho-Rojas , Leonardo J. Uribe-Cavero , Angie Diaz-Mejía , Mabel R. Challapa-Mamani , Marisella Chumán-Sánchez , Oswaldo N. Vite-Gutierrez , Jeremy Yauri-Mamani , Omar C. Bellota-Segovia , Paula Regina Durand-Anahua , Yahaira M. Mamani-Ticona , Zulema Mamani-Condori , Kelly Alarcon-Ore , Kevin Anthony Martínez-Solís , Jair Noé Navarro-Cahuaza , Dante M. Quiñones-Laveriano and Martha Villar-López

Published/Copyright: June 18, 2025

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 22 Issue 4

Abstract

Objectives

Traditional, Alternative, and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) encompasses a variety of health practices that differ from the conventional medical system, including the use of medicinal herbs and complementary therapies. In Peru, these practices, particularly the use of therapeutic plants, are legally protected and commonly used for treating certain conditions. However, the lack of inclusion of T&CM in medical education puts these practices at risk of disappearing. To analyze the inclusion of T&CM courses in the curricula of medical schools in Peru to identify gaps and opportunities for improving medical education and ensuring comprehensive training for future healthcare professionals.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the curricula of 47 Peruvian medical schools. Data on the presence, structure, and content of T&CM courses were extracted and analyzed descriptively.

Results

In 2024, 15 out of 47 Peruvian universities offering Human Medicine programs (31.9 %) included T&CM courses. Among them, 73 % were public institutions, and 53 % were located in coastal regions. The most common topics were Traditional Chinese Medicine (93.3 %), Traditional Peruvian Medicine (87 %), phytotherapy (93 %), and acupuncture (80 %). Course structure varied: 60 % of courses were elective, while 40 % were mandatory. Most universities (93 %) allocated 2–3 academic credits, and 80 % incorporated practical training, though structured field visits were rare (6.7 %). Additionally, 53 % of universities included research activities. The lack of standardized curricular guidelines led to variability in course content and depth across institutions.

Conclusions

Few universities in Peru teach T&CM, highlighting a need to enhance medical education. Increasing T&CM topics in curricula and addressing information access disparities are crucial.

Keywords: complementary therapies; traditional medicine; curricula; medical education

Corresponding author: Juan Huaccho-Rojas, MD, Carrera de Medicina Humana, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru; and Centro de Investigación de Medicina Tradicional y Farmacología (CIMTFAR), Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru, E-mail: jhuaccho.md@gmail.com

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: The authors did not use AI-assisted technologies, including large language models, for writing, editing, data analysis, or figure generation in the preparation of this manuscript.
Conflict of interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Received: 2024-12-17

Accepted: 2025-04-11

Published Online: 2025-06-18

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2024-0416

Keywords for this article

complementary therapies; traditional medicine; curricula; medical education