MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA, ALMA ATA 1962 AFFILIATED TO
THE OPEN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOR COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES
Established by Prof. Dr. Anton Jayasuriya

This International Organization formed in 1962 congruent to the policy objectives of the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. In 1962 The WHO and UNICEF sponsored an International Conference in USSR at Alma Ata, at the University of Kazakhstan. At this conference the ALMA ATA DECLARATION defined a global strategy for public health and preventive medicine which epitomized as "HEALTH FOR ALL BY 2000 A.D." This strategy entails the use of all available healing methods both Orthodox and Traditional and  Medicina Alternativa was formed as an international society under the guidelines of THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, and registered under the legal enactments of USSR in Alma Ata in 1962. Its membership was limited to those who attended that meeting. Delegates from 46 countries were represented. The first Chairman was Prof. V. Inyushin of the Department of Biophysics of the University of Khazakstan in USSR. The co-chairman was Prof. Dr. Jos Schade, the celebrated neurologist from Holland.

A  Summary of aims is as follows :- 

(1) To advance the scientific study and professional practice of Medicines, by encouraging its development by promoting research, living high standards of professional ethics, competence, conduct, education, qualification and achievement among practitioners.

(2) To carry out the promotion and the dissemination of knowledge and philosophy of Medicines through local and International Meeting, lectures, seminars, workshops, reports, papers, discussions, publications and professional contacts.

(3) To encourage a wide interest among the public and Medicines and all ancillary areas of knowledge and practice.

Alma Ata declaration emphasizes primary health care which has been described as "Essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families of the community through their full participation and at a cost that a community and a country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development, in the spirit of self reliance and self determination “.

Primary health care practice is based on the special training and scientific orientation provided to health care workers including physicians, nurses, midwives, auxiliary and community workers and Traditional medical practitioners. Therefore Medicina Alternativa under the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION guidelines have established procedures and regulations outlining the Code of Ethics that healers are expected to allow, consequent to their training and certification by "The  Open International University For Complementary Medicines". However, practitioners are governed by legislation and regulations which are appropriate to their country in which they hold registration, in addition to the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is a general guideline to all practitioners.

As candidates from many countries of the world found it difficult to attend the courses held in Khazakstan, it was decided to transfer the main base to Western Europe. Some years later, the subsequent (second) Chairman (Prof. Dr. Jos Schade, M.D., Ph.D) transferred the organization to the Netherlands (Houten, City of Utrecht, Dr. S. Yasuda being the first Patron). However, persons from Third World countries and developing nations could not easily avail of the training programs in the various medical disciplines made available through the organization in Western Europe because of expensive living costs. In order to make this knowledge accessible to a larger population, and especially to those in economically less well off countries, it was decided to move the base to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) under the Chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya. Medicina Alternativa initially was based at the Institute of Acupuncture  at the Colombo South Government General Hospital, Kalubowila, Sri Lanka. Over 29,000 students from 120 countries have been taught complementary medicine to date. Under the auspices, the various regional associations have instituted training courses, Symposia and World Congresses in all five continents and in over one hundred countries in the past quarter of a century.
 
Thus, it was decided in 1987 to constitute The Open International University for Complementary Medicines with special emphasis to conduct an intensive clinical training program on various Complimentary and alternative therapies world wide, working with conjunction with other affiliated originations. The Sri Lanka Government was requested to enact legislation to enable The Open International University for Complementary Medicines to be constituted as a privately funded postgraduate institute. In March, 1988 onwards, degrees are being conferred and training courses are being conducted under the U.N. theme "Health for all by the year 2000". The Open International University for Complementary Medicines form part of this worldwide endeavor to improve educational and public health facilities by the year 2000 A.D. 
His Excellency J. R.Jayewardene, former President of Sri Lanka, by Letter No. 196/1 of 25th March, 1988 recognized the Open International University for Complementary Medicines as a privately funded body and also kindly consented (in August 1989) to be the Honorary Patron of this University. Prof. Dr. Sir Stanley Cook was the International Chancellor and Mr. Eardly Perera Esqr, President's Counsel, was the chief legal advisor.
Since then OIUCM as been in the forefront in developing and promoting Complementary and Alternative Medicines World Wide for the past three decades. The Administrative Secretariat is at No 29, Budhist Central, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka. The Affairs of the OIUCM is run by the board of directors appointed both locally and internationally by the Trustees of Medicina Alternativa.

The Open International University for Complementary Medicines (OIUCM)

The Open International University for Complementary Medicines was founded in 1962 as per the World Health Organization Alma Ata Declaration and accorded international recognition to make alternative medicines popular. The I.C.A.M. & I.U.A.M were founded years later, as a part of O.I.U.C.M. to aid in the mandate to bring about a better understanding of health as it relates to mankind by increasing public awareness and the popularity of alternative medicines.

It was hoped that this goal be well underway by the year 2000, as this year marks the way for people to begin a new holistic approach to life. In fact, this trend started before the onset of the new millennium as people were expressing increasing dissatisfaction with the western medical system and turning towards alternative medicines. People are looking for practitioners who care about the health of the entire person and not only interested in prescribing medications that will treat their symptoms.
It was decided that by establishing international teaching facilities, the student would be exposed to many different theories, ideologies and schools of thought on alternative medicines, from all over the world, resulting in a wide-range approach to health. Through the Institutions relationships, with long-standing internationally accredited educational facilities, which have been collectively responsible for educating more than 165,000 students, we are offering our students the opportunity to become well-rounded practitioners in a variety of alternative medicines, while adopting a humanitarian approach to people’s ailments. Our goal is to offer professional educational programs to educate, not only the practitioner, but also society as a whole, about the potential and power of alternative medicines.

The Open International College for Complementary Medicines Affiliated with Medicina Alternativa Inc. is enrolled in the Higher Education official register in the Public Registry of Deeds of Kazakhstan Socialist Soviet Republic at Alma-Ata, dated September 12, 1962 under certificate number 115620.20.6.30. It is recognized by the Sri Lankan government as being the educational arm of Medicina Alternativa and was given approval to conduct graduate and undergraduate teachings and subsequently, award degrees. This institution, and its affiliates are known to be international organizations that are private, autonomous universities whose degrees are accepted by many countries including the United States. In addition, these institutions have been recognized by the United Nations Charter of the University of Peace by the U.N. General Assembly Resolution No. 35/55/5/XII/1980. As these institutions are international organizations, they claim no affiliation with any government.

Throughout his life the late Prof Sir Anton Jayasuriya believed that education was one of the best ways to improve mankind. ‘Give a starving man food today and he will be hungry tomorrow. Teach him to fish, and he will learn to feed himself’.
Apollo Digital University is the recognized e-learning platform of the Open International University of Complentary Medicines and its aim is to promote and enable teaching of Alternative medicine by bringing together Professors and students to a virtual University- for example, a Professor in India will be able to teach Acupuncture to students in Canada. With video-conferencing, visual demonstrations can be made and students will be able to ask questions ‘face-to-face.’
Professors and healers with vast experience and knowledge from all corners of the globe have come together to develop curriculums that would not only provide the student with the knowledge to provide quality health care but also to expose the student to as many different schools of thought as possible, creating an "international" educational experience for them all. The courses also respect the guidelines of education and practice as set out by the World Health Organization and other international humanitarian organizations such as the Albert Schweitzer International Open University for Refugees and Minorities (South America) and the United Nations Peace University.

Whilst this platform teaches the ‘Theory’ of all types of complementary medicine, ‘Practical’ courses can be arranged through ADU and OIUCM. Apart from giving the students a chance to extend their ‘working’ knowledge, these Practical courses have a humanitarian benefit by encouraging students to visit these facilities and donate their time and knowledge of alternative health care to those in need.