WHO Traditional Medicine Summit 2025: India’s Strategic Role
Context
India has initiated the countdown for the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, scheduled from 17–19 December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
About the Summit
Description:
. A global WHO platform to advance traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine
. Focuses on scientific validation, evidence-based practices, and global policy dialogue
Host:
. Co-hosted by WHO and the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
. Supported by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), Jamnagar
Theme:
. Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being
Key Features
Evidence-Based Integration:
. Strengthens research and clinical trials
. Enhances regulatory and quality assurance frameworks
Global Participation:
. Delegations from 100 plus countries
. Includes ministers, policymakers, scientists, and traditional medicine practitioners
Digital Health and Innovation:
. Showcases digital repositories and AI-enabled pharmacopeias
. Includes biodiversity mapping of medicinal plants
Biodiversity and Sustainability:
. Focuses on sustainable sourcing of medicinal plants
. Conserves systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, Homeopathy
Policy Harmonisation:
. Develops a ten-year global roadmap
. Supports integration of safe, equitable, evidence-based traditional medicine into national health systems
Significance
Boost to India’s Soft Power:
. Reinforces India’s leadership in global traditional medicine
. Builds on global acceptance of Yoga and credibility of Ayurveda
WHO–India Collaboration:
. Strengthens the role of WHO-GTMC Jamnagar
. Enhances global cooperation in traditional medicine research
Health System Integration:
. Helps nations integrate traditional medicine into universal health coverage
. Supports primary healthcare and public health programs
Conclusion
The Summit strengthens India’s position in global health governance, expands scientific collaboration, and promotes the global integration of safe, research-backed, and accessible traditional medicine systems.
Source : DD News