How One African University Is Reshaping Medical Education by Teaching Doctors to Bridge Conventional and Traditional Medicine

Mozambique has launched a pioneering integrative medicine course at its largest medical university, training the next generation of doctors to blend conventional medicine with evidence-based traditional therapies like herbal remedies and acupuncture. The initiative, offered in both intensive and online formats at Eduardo Mondlane University, enrolled 164 students and achieved an 82% completion rate, with all participants passing the final exam and reporting significant improvements in their understanding of holistic patient care.

Why Is Mozambique Creating This New Type of Medical Training?

Mozambique faces a unique healthcare challenge. While the country struggles with infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, only 47% of its 35 million people have direct access to conventional healthcare facilities. As a result, many Mozambicans—particularly in rural areas—rely on traditional medicine out of both necessity and cultural tradition. At the same time, urban centers like Maputo are seeing growing interest in complementary therapies: some public hospitals now offer acupuncture, Chinese medicine clinics are expanding, and practices like aromatherapy and meditation are gaining popularity.

The problem was that Mozambique's medical schools weren't preparing doctors to engage with these practices. "There has been little public discourse or institutional positioning around [integrative medicine's] potential," yet the growing demand highlighted both a gap in education and an opportunity to align biomedical training with the therapeutic practices already embedded in local communities. By creating formal training in integrative medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University aimed to equip future healthcare professionals with the knowledge to work effectively with patients who use both conventional and traditional approaches.

What Did the Course Actually Teach?

The integrative medicine course was delivered in two formats: a one-week intensive in-person program (September 2024) and an eight-week online program (January-February 2025). Both included weekly lectures, practical sessions, and interactive discussions. The curriculum covered multiple therapeutic approaches, with students rating certain topics as particularly relevant:

• Phytotherapy: The study and use of plant-based medicines, which emerged as the most highly rated topic among participants.
• Traditional Medicine: The second most relevant subject, reflecting the deep cultural roots of healing practices in Mozambique.
• Mental Well-Being and Nutrition: Additional core components that emphasized the mind-body connection and dietary approaches to health.

The course was funded by a $28,500 grant from the Weil Foundation and drew on expertise from multiple disciplines within the Faculty of Sciences, including ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, nutrition, and traditional medicine specialists. This multidisciplinary approach ensured that students learned evidence-based practices rather than unproven remedies.

Who Took the Course and What Were the Results?

A total of 134 students completed the course out of 164 enrolled. The majority were female (81%), with an average age of 23 years; 61% were medical students, and three were postgraduate students. Satisfaction was remarkably high: 66% of participants gave the course the highest possible rating. Students particularly praised the instructors (78% rated them highly), course organization (77%), and resources provided (75%).

The learning outcomes were equally impressive. Post-course evaluations showed statistically significant improvements across multiple measures, including knowledge, interest, attitudes, and competencies. All 134 students passed the final exam, with an average score of 18 out of 20—a remarkable achievement that suggests the course effectively conveyed complex material. When asked about their preferred teaching method, 63% of students mentioned the participatory approach, indicating that hands-on, interactive learning was more effective than traditional lectures alone.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Medical Education?

This initiative in Mozambique reflects a broader global shift. In the United States and other developed countries, major medical centers including Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, and the Mayo Clinic are increasingly embracing integrative care, particularly for pain management, musculoskeletal issues, and cancer treatment-related symptoms. A 2025 survey of healthcare leaders worldwide found that 60% reported integrative care is prevalent or very prevalent in their organizations, and 80% said patients receiving integrative care have better health outcomes compared to the general population.

Integrative medicine doctors—who hold medical degrees and complete specialized fellowships in evidence-based holistic health—take a different approach to patient care than conventional physicians alone. "Whole person care means I'm treating your biology, behavior, environment, stress load, and values—not just your lab results," explains Dr. Tokunbo Akandé, a dual board-certified pediatrician and integrative medicine physician. This approach combines conventional treatments like medications and diagnostic tests with evidence-based complementary therapies such as dietary changes, mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga, and body-based interventions like acupuncture and massage.

For Mozambique, establishing this formal training program is a critical step toward building healthcare capacity and fostering dialogue about integrative medicine's role in the country's health system. The success of the pilot course—with its high completion rates, universal exam passage, and strong student satisfaction—establishes a foundation for advancing integrative medicine education and research in Mozambique and potentially across sub-Saharan Africa. By training doctors who understand both conventional medicine and evidence-based traditional therapies, Mozambique is positioning itself to deliver more person-centered care that honors both biomedical science and the healing practices already trusted by its population.