WHO Traditional Medicine Summit Ends in New Delhi
The second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine organised by the World Health Organization concluded in New Delhi, marking a major step in global efforts to integrate traditional systems of medicine into public healthcare frameworks. The multi-day summit brought together policymakers, health experts, researchers, practitioners and representatives from several countries to deliberate on the role of traditional medicine in modern healthcare.
Focus on Global Health Integration
Discussions at the summit centred on strengthening scientific evidence, improving regulation, and ensuring the safe and effective use of traditional medicine. Participants underlined the need for integrating traditional, complementary and integrative medicine with modern health systems to support universal health coverage and preventive care.
Delhi Declaration and Key Outcomes
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which recognises traditional medicine as a valuable global heritage and calls for international cooperation in research, policy development and capacity building. A major outcome was the announcement of a global digital initiative aimed at documenting and sharing evidence-based knowledge on traditional medicine to support policymaking and innovation.
India’s Role Highlighted
India’s leadership in promoting traditional medicine systems was highlighted during the summit. The country’s efforts to combine digital tools, standardisation and global collaboration in the Ayush sector were cited as examples of scalable models for other nations.
Way Forward
Delegates agreed that future efforts should focus on research, safety standards and responsible integration to ensure traditional medicine contributes meaningfully to global health goals.
