Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
10.12.2025
Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
Context
In December 2025, India officially commenced the countdown to the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. The event is scheduled to be held from December 17–19, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
About the News
Event Overview: This is a high-level global health summit convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at advancing traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine through policy collaboration and scientific validation.
Hosting and Support:
- Co-Hosts: The event is co-hosted by the WHO and the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
- Institutional Support: It is supported by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Theme (2025): “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.”
Key Features of the Summit
- Evidence-Based Integration: The summit prioritizes the scientific validation of traditional medicine. This includes establishing quality benchmarks, regulatory frameworks, and conducting robust clinical trials.
- Digital Health & Innovation: Showcases will include AI-driven pharmacopeias, digital repositories of traditional knowledge, and comprehensive biodiversity mapping for medicinal plants.
- Global Participation: Delegations from over 100 countries are expected, comprising Health Ministers, policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and practitioners of Indigenous medicine.
- Biodiversity & Sustainability: Discussions will focus on the sustainable sourcing of medicinal plants and the conservation of diverse systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy.
Significance of the Summit
- Bolstering Soft Power: The summit positions India as a global leader in the domain of traditional medicine, building upon the international success of Yoga and the rising credibility of Ayurveda.
- Strengthening Collaboration: It enhances the strategic role of the WHO-GTMC in Jamnagar, reflecting increasing global confidence in India’s traditional knowledge systems.
- Health System Integration: The event serves as a catalyst for countries to incorporate traditional medicine into Universal Health Coverage (UHC), primary healthcare, and public health initiatives.
Way Forward
- Policy Harmonisation: The primary goal is to create a decade-long roadmap that ensures safe, equitable, and evidence-based traditional medicine is integrated into national healthcare systems.
- Research & Development: Continued investment in scientific research is essential to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and modern medical standards.
Conclusion
The 2nd WHO Global Summit represents a crucial step in harmonizing ancient wisdom with modern science. By fostering global cooperation and emphasizing evidence-based practices, the summit aims to institutionalize traditional medicine as a vital component of holistic global health.