SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of AYUSH
The WHOβs Global Traditional Medicine Centre has launched the Health & Heritage Innovations (H2I) initiative to identify and overcome scientific and technical barriers that limit the scale-up of Traditional Medicine (TM). The effort aims to expand TMβs role in delivering equitable and sustainable health solutions.
Proposals are invited from start-ups, research institutions, Indigenous knowledge holders, community organisations, and governments. Each WHO region will nominate three finalists, with three more global awardees - 21 in total - receiving a tailored βEnterprise & Acceleration Package.β The initiative seeks innovations spanning product design, diagnostics, care delivery, knowledge documentation, sustainable sourcing, and governance. It also encourages integration of genomics, AI, digital health, and ecosystem approaches to validate and scale TM while safeguarding cultural integrity and benefit sharing.
By bridging traditional knowledge and modern science, WHO is opening pathways for TM to contribute to universal health coverage. For countries like India, this creates opportunities for innovation in AYUSH systems, regulatory evolution, and global leadership in equitable health models.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can governments design regulatory and institutional frameworks that enable Traditional Medicine innovations to scale responsibly while ensuring scientific validation, community ownership, and sustainability?
Follow the full announcement here: WHO Health Heritage Innovations Open Call (H2I)