WHO Hosts Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to Advance Science and Innovation
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Ayush
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was inaugurated on December 17, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, jointly organized by the WHO and the Ministry of Ayush. The three-day event, themed “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being,” aims to unify the “wisdom of millennia” with modern science and technology to shape a more holistic and sustainable global health future.
Key Announcements and Initiatives:
Anchored by WHO-GTMC Jamnagar: The summit is anchored by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which serves as the technical backbone and global hub for research, standard-setting, and data analytics in traditional medicine.
Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034: The summit serves as a platform to translate findings from the WHO Research Roadmap into actionable insights for this new decade-long strategy.
Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL): Launch of the world’s largest digital repository, featuring 1.6 million scientific records, to strengthen the evidence base and facilitate knowledge sharing.
Evidence-Based Integration: A push for rigorous scientific validation through clinical trials and quality benchmarks, focusing on the safe and ethical integration of traditional medicine into national health systems.
Innovation Showcase: The summit features an Ayush Expo and a “TM Innovation Zone,” highlighting digital innovation, AI-driven pharmacopeias, and biodiversity mapping for medicinal plants.
Focus on Ashwagandha: A specialized expert session is dedicated to reviewing scientific findings on the therapeutic properties and global impact of Ashwagandha.
Policy Relevance
The summit positions traditional medicine as a critical contributor to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and planetary well-being.
Soft Power and Leadership: By hosting the summit, India reinforces its position as a global leader in traditional knowledge systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, etc.), building on the international success of the inaugural summit in Gujarat.
Addressing Funding Gaps: Currently, less than 1% of global health research funding is dedicated to traditional medicine; the summit advocates for stronger investment and implementation to bridge this gap.
Equity and Indigenous Rights: The declaration emphasizes respectful exchange with Indigenous Peoples and the protection of biodiversity and intellectual property rights relating to medicinal resources.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the WHO and member states ensure that the scientific validation of traditional practices does not lead to “bio-piracy” or the exploitation of Indigenous knowledge systems without fair and equitable benefit-sharing?
Follow the full news here: WHO hosts the second Global Summit to advance evidence, integration and innovation for traditional medicine