WHO Launches Global Traditional Medicine Summit in New Delhi

By John Pranay (Editor)

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India have opened the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, bringing together international leaders, scientists, and practitioners from over 100 countries. The summit marks a significant step toward implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which aims to strengthen evidence, regulation, and community engagement. The event is being held in New Delhi, India, and has already drawn attention to the vast potential of traditional medicine in delivering safer, smarter, and more sustainable health solutions.

The Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine has kicked off in New Delhi, India, with a gathering of over 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries. The event is being co-hosted by the WHO and the Government of India, with the aim of promoting the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasized the importance of harnessing innovation, including AI and genomics, to unlock the potential of traditional medicine. The summit has also highlighted the need for global safety and quality standards, as well as the importance of respecting biodiversity and cultural specificities.

• 2025: The WHO launches the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, aiming to strengthen evidence, regulation, and community engagement.

• 2025: The Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine opens in New Delhi, India, with over 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries.

• 2025: The WHO unveils the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a comprehensive digital hub dedicated to TM science and policy.

• 2034: The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 is set to expire, with the aim of achieving stronger evidence, better regulation, and improved systems integration.

Traditional medicine has been a cornerstone of healthcare for billions of people worldwide, with 170 out of 194 WHO Member States reporting that 40–90% of their populations use traditional medicine. The WHO has recognized the potential of traditional medicine to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable health solutions, particularly in areas where modern healthcare is scarce. However, the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems has been hindered by a lack of evidence, regulation, and community engagement.

The Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine marks a significant step toward addressing the global health crisis, particularly in areas where modern healthcare is scarce. By harnessing innovation and promoting the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems, the WHO aims to expand access to affordable, people-centred healthcare, support universal health coverage, and improve prevention and health literacy. The summit has also highlighted the need for global safety and quality standards, as well as the importance of respecting biodiversity and cultural specificities.

The integration of traditional medicine into national health systems poses several regulatory, financial, and physical risks, including:

• The need for global safety and quality standards to ensure the safe use of traditional medicine.

• The risk of financial hardship for individuals seeking traditional medicine, particularly in areas where modern healthcare is scarce.

• The potential for the misuse of traditional medicine, particularly in areas where regulation is lacking.

Q: What is the WHO's Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034?

A: The strategy aims to strengthen evidence, regulation, and community engagement to promote the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems.

Q: What is the Traditional Medicine Global Library?

A: The library is a comprehensive digital hub dedicated to TM science and policy, launched by the WHO to close critical research gaps.

Q: What is the significance of the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine?

A: The summit marks a significant step toward implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and promoting the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems.

Overall, the medium-term sentiment around this story is Bullish.

1. WHO opens Global Traditional Medicine Summit, launching major scientific initiatives — https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/3734366-who-opens-global-traditional-medicine-summit-launching-major-scientific-initiatives

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.