From December 17 to 19, India will host the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in a significant moment in the global recognition and integration of traditional healing systems. To be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the summit will see participation by ministers, policy-makers, researchers, health experts, and industry leaders from over 100 countries.
Conceived to promote the modern health care system, this event intends to further global dialogue on the role of traditional medicine. Traditional medicine in its various forms—Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, African indigenous healing practices, and Native American therapies—is practiced all over the world in one way or another. According to WHO estimates, almost 80% of the global population relies on some form of traditional or complementary medicine for health maintenance and disease prevention. This summit seeks to build evidence-based frameworks, strengthen regulatory standards, and encourage cross-border collaboration to harness the full potential of ancient medical knowledge.
For India, this summit holds particular importance. The country is home to one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive medical traditions—Ayurveda—along with a rich heritage of herbal remedies, holistic healing, and wellness sciences. Hosting the summit aligns with India’s vision of becoming a global hub for traditional medicine research, education, and innovation. The Ministry of AYUSH, which oversees Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, has been working closely with WHO to organise the event.
The integration of traditional medicine into contemporary healthcare is one of the key agendas of this summit. Scientific validation of herbal medicines, development of global quality-control standards, digitization of ancient medical texts, and accelerating research on traditional medicine through AI and biotechnology are some of the topics that will be discussed. According to the officials at WHO, any integration of traditional practices with modern medical systems has to be based on solid scientific evidence to ensure safety and efficiency for the patients.
Another major focus area will be the promotion of international collaboration. Countries interested in incorporating traditional medicine into public-health policies will get a chance to share their experiences and build partnerships. India plans to showcase advancements such as the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at Gujarat that is expected to lead cutting-edge research, develop global protocols, and support startups working in natural medicine and wellness technologies.
The stakeholders attending the summit are expected, among other things, to talk about the challenges facing the traditional medicine ecosystem. This includes discussing matters of regulation and standardization, biodiversity conservation, practitioner training, and prevention of misuse or commercialization of indigenous knowledge. According to experts, as much as traditional medicine holds immense therapeutic potential, its use needs to be both responsible and ethical to avoid exploitation of natural resources and communities.
The global wellness market, valued at over $5 trillion and growing rapidly, is seeing an increasing demand for herbal supplements, holistic therapies, mind-body treatments, and preventive healthcare practices. The traditional medicine sector of India has seen good growth in the last few years due to the increasing interest of consumers in natural remedies, yoga, and lifestyle-based healing. The summit is expected to open new opportunities for exports, research collaborations, and investments in Ayurveda and related sectors.
Indian officials have said that the event will help solidify the country’s role in shaping global health policies. Traditional medicine holds a key relevance to building a healthier world, and this message has been repeatedly articulated by none other than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, as ancient practices have solutions to offer for modern-day challenges like stress, lifestyle diseases, and mental-health problems.
It is also expected that the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will make available policy recommendations, along with a strategic roadmap for future action, on such varied issues as guidelines for clinical trials, sustainable sourcing of medicinal plants, digitized registries of practitioners, and harmonized international regulations. With delegates arriving from around the world in New Delhi this December, the summit promises to be a milestone in elevating traditional medicine to the global stage. It represents the coming together of ancient wisdom and modern science in an effort to enhance healthcare accessibility, promote holistic well-being, and encourage innovation in natural medicine systems.
