Jakarta (ANTARA News) - ASEAN Foundation Executive Director Dr. Makarim Wibisono and two officials of the health ministry discussed a plan to organize the Third ASEAN Conference on Traditional Medicines in Indonesia, from October 31 to November 3, 2011.

The two officials of the health ministry were Dra. Niniek Kun Naryatie, the Head of the Center of International Cooperation, and Doddy Izwardy, the Head of the Division of Regional Health Cooperation, the ASEAN Foundation said in a press statement here on Wednesday.

During the discussion which was held on Tuesday (Aug 23), the Ministry of Health sought the possibility of cooperating with the ASEAN Foundation to support the ASEAN Task Force on Traditional Medicines meeting that will serve as a session during the conference.

Dr. Makarim Wibisono pointed out that the Foundation attaches great importance to the ASEAN level event such as the traditional medicines meeting because this activity falls perfectly into its mandates.

The 10th ASEAN Ministers Meetings in Singapore that was conducted on 22nd July 2010 stated the importance of traditional medicines among the 6 points of the ASEAN strategic framework on health development.

To initiate the collaboration among ASEAN Member States in integrating of the traditional medicine into the national health care system, the ASEAN Secretariat supported by Nippon Foundation commences the ASEAN Conferences on traditional medicines.

In the last decade, traditional medicines have been widely used by the health community services in all ASEAN member countries.

Many strategically high level meetings and thematic workshops in each ASEAN Member State have endorsed policies, regulations, and formulation of framework related to the traditional medicines. (*)