Source: UN News: Saturday, December 20, 2025 00:01 AM
The second global summit of the World Health Organization (WHO) on traditional medicine has started on Wednesday in New Delhi, the capital of India. In this conference organized in collaboration with the Government of India, representatives from more than 100 countries are participating who will discuss about the possibilities, authenticity and accessibility of traditional medical systems. These include ministers, scientists, tribal leaders and doctors. Traditional medicine includes codified and uncodified practices that predate modern biomedicine and continue to evolve over time. This medical practice is the mainstay of treatment for many communities around the world because it is locally readily available, affordable, and culturally acceptable. For some people, it is a more personal and natural option, according to their preferences. UN Health Agency- WHO Nearly 90 percent of WHO Member States – that is, 170 out of 194 countries – have between 40 and 90 percent of their populations, using some form of traditional medicine. “WHO is committed to linking the wisdom of millennia with the power of modern science and technology,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a video message for the inaugural session of the second summit in New Delhi. “By aligning responsibility, ethics and equity, and harnessing innovations from AI to genomics, we can unlock the potential of traditional medicine to deliver safer, more efficient and more sustainable health solutions for every community and our planet,” he said. WHO is leading the implementation of a global strategy on traditional medicine for 2025–2034, and is leading the way in this direction. This global summit is also expected to announce major scientific initiatives and new commitments. This strategy will focus on strong evidence, better regulation, integration into health systems, collaboration and community participation. © UN News/Anshu Sharma Artists performing at the opening ceremony of the World Health Organization’s second global summit on traditional medicine in New Delhi. Integration of Traditional Medicine into Health SystemsThe summit, held from 17 to 19 December, comes at a time when pressure on health systems around the world is increasing. Nearly half of the global population – 4.6 billion people – lack access to essential health services, with more than two billion facing difficulties accessing treatment due to economic difficulties. According to WHO, integration of traditional medicine into health systems is essential to increase access and choice to affordable and people-centred treatment. It also strengthens universal health coverage (UHC) so that people can get the services they need without financial burden. Emerging evidence shows that this integration can help reduce costs and improve health outcomes. A focus on prevention and health promotion also has broader public health benefits, such as more appropriate use of antibiotics. Required Standards However, WHO officials believe that to properly implement them, strong scientific evidence, global standards of quality and safety, and effective regulations are needed. “We must apply the same scientific rigor to the evaluation and validation of biomedical and traditional medicines,” said Dr. Sylvie Briand, WHO’s Chief Scientist. Biodiversity, cultural specificities and ethical principles have to be respected.” © UN News/Anshu Sharma Tribal communities make up only six percent of the global population, but they protect about 40 percent of the world’s biodiversity. He said that modern-day cutting-edge technologies, such as advanced data analytics, and stronger collaboration can transform the way traditional medicine is studied and used. Innovation, investment and sustainability: The entire traditional medicine system, including herbal medicines, is the foundation of rapidly growing global industries. According to WHO, more than half of all traditional medicine and bioidentical medicines come from natural resources. Therefore, these resources are still very important for the discovery of new medicines. Tribal communities constitute only about six percent of the global population, yet they protect about 40 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Therefore, advancing traditional medicine requires attention to issues such as tribal rights, fair trade and benefit-sharing, as well as ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. Despite its widespread use and importance, less than one percent of global health research funding is currently allocated to traditional medicine, leaving a large gap in evidence and innovation. © UN News/Anshu Sharma Representatives from different countries of Africa attended the WHO Traditional Medicine Summit. To bridge this gap, WHO is launching the ‘Global Library of Traditional Medicine’, the first resource of its kind. It contains more than 16 lakh scientific records, including research, policies, regulations and thematic collections on diverse uses of traditional medicine. This library has been developed following an appeal by the Heads of State during the G20 and BRICS meetings in 2023. The library will provide institutions in low-income countries with equitable online access to peer-reviewed content under the ‘Research4Life’ initiative. It will also help countries document traditional medicine with intellectual property protection and enhance scientific capacity for innovation. “Advancing traditional medicine is an evidence-based, ethical and environmental imperative,” said Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Acting Director of WHO’s Global Center for Traditional Medicine. “This global summit will foster the conditions and collaborations needed for traditional medicine to contribute to the prosperity of all people and our planet at large,” she said. Are.”
