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.