Anatomy education in traditional and complementary medicine: who should teach anatomy?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to emphasize the amount of anatomy courses in the regulation titled, “Traditional and Complementary Medical Implementations” and to make anatomists think of the question who should teach anatomy in traditional and complementary medicine? Methods: The anatomy courses in the standards of education for traditional and complementary therapies organized by the Turkish Republic Ministry of Health were investigated. The number of anatomy courses for teaching complementary medicine without standards of education were taken from the draft regulation for traditional and complementary therapies. Results: Clinical anatomy is the practical application of anatomical knowledge to diagnosis and treatment. Up to date, there is no regulation defining who is authorized to give anatomy lectures in the workshops or courses permitted by the Ministry of Health of Turkey. It was seen that, theoretically, any health practitioner in workshops could give anatomy lectures. Conclusion: Anatomists are experts of the structure and relationship of all parts of the body. A great number of anatomists are practicing traditional and complementary medicine in Turkey. The anatomists who are qualified in both anatomy and complementary medicine may be the ideal lecturers in the education of these methods.