WHO Summit Advances Global Traditional Medicine Strategy & Digital Library Launch
The second World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine concluded in New Delhi this week, marking a significant step forward in integrating traditional practices into modern healthcare systems. The summit, co-hosted with the Government of India, drew over 16,000 online participants and 800 delegates from more than 100 countries, including health ministers from over 20 nations, to discuss how traditional medicine (TM) can strengthen global health with safe, evidence-based, and affordable care.
A Digital Library and Innovation Hub for Traditional Medicine
A central outcome of the summit was the unveiling of the Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL), a digital platform consolidating over 1.6 million resources on traditional medicine. This includes scientific studies, Indigenous knowledge, and data from various sources worldwide. The TMGL features advanced tools like Evidence Gap Maps and an AI-powered tool, TMGL GPT, designed to improve access to reliable information and accelerate research in the field. The library aims to address a critical gap in accessible, vetted information about traditional practices, which often exists in fragmented or difficult-to-access formats.
Alongside the library, the launch of Health &. Heritage Innovations (H2I) signals a commitment to fostering innovation at the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern technology. The initiative received over 1,000 submissions, with 21 finalists selected to participate in a year-long acceleration program. This program will provide scientific and regulatory guidance, as well as connections to policymakers and investors, to assist refine prototypes and bring promising ideas to fruition. The focus is on bridging traditional practices with cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, genomics, and digital health.
The Delhi Declaration: A Collective Commitment
Countries participating in the summit endorsed the Delhi Declaration, a pledge from 26 Member States outlining a new era for traditional medicine. The declaration focuses on integrating traditional medicine into primary healthcare, strengthening regulation and safety standards, investing in research, and establishing interoperable data systems to monitor outcomes. This represents a shift from simply acknowledging the value of traditional medicine to actively implementing strategies for its effective and safe integration into healthcare systems. Detailed commitments from each member state are available on the WHO website.
India’s Role and the New WHO Headquarters
The choice of New Delhi as the host city is particularly significant, given India’s long history and rich tradition of medicinal practices like Ayurveda and Yoga. The summit coincided with the recent inauguration of the redeveloped headquarters of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO–SEARO) in Delhi. The ₹300 crore complex, built by NBCC (India) Limited, replaces a 1962 structure while preserving heritage elements, including murals by artist M.F. Husain. The new facility, as reported by Hindustan Times, will house both WHO–SEARO and the WHO India Country Office, serving as a regional hub for public health programs. The expanded building now accommodates over 600 personnel, a significant increase from the original structure.
What the WHO Director-General Said
“Through the Delhi Commitment, countries have agreed not only on why traditional medicine matters – but on how to act,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He emphasized the potential of traditional medicine to address pressing global health challenges, including the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, inequities in access to healthcare, and the impacts of climate change. Dr. Tedros highlighted the importance of culturally grounded and holistic care approaches.
Looking Ahead: From Commitment to Implementation
The next phase will focus on translating these commitments into tangible results. The WHO will collaborate with Member States to scale access to trusted knowledge, accelerate innovation, and integrate traditional medicine into health systems globally. This includes providing technical assistance, supporting research initiatives, and developing regulatory frameworks to ensure the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine practices. The WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 serves as a roadmap for this effort, outlining a vision for a future where healthcare is more inclusive, culturally sensitive, and resilient. The strategy emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practices, quality control, and the protection of Indigenous knowledge.
The success of this initiative will depend on sustained collaboration between governments, researchers, healthcare professionals, and traditional medicine practitioners. It also requires a commitment to addressing the challenges of standardization, quality control, and the potential for interactions between traditional and conventional medicines. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be crucial to track progress and adapt strategies as needed. The WHO will play a central role in coordinating these efforts and providing guidance to Member States.
The summit’s emphasis on innovation, particularly through the H2I initiative, suggests a growing recognition of the potential for technology to enhance traditional medicine practices. However, This proves vital to approach these innovations with caution, ensuring that they are grounded in scientific evidence and respect cultural traditions. The integration of AI and genomics into traditional medicine research holds promise, but also raises ethical considerations that must be carefully addressed.