WHO Summit Advances Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine

The World Health Organization opened its Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine on Tuesday in New Delhi, marking a new phase in global efforts to integrate traditional medicine into national health systems through stronger evidence, regulation and collaboration.

Jointly organized with the Government of India, the three-day summit brings together government ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders and practitioners from more than 100 countries. The meeting is expected to announce new scientific initiatives and commitments aligned with the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which focuses on evidence generation, regulatory frameworks, health system integration and community engagement.

Traditional medicine includes both codified and non-codified systems that predate modern biomedicine and have continued to evolve. According to WHO data, nearly 90% of its 194 member states report that between 40% and 90% of their populations use some form of traditional medicine. In many settings, it remains the most accessible and affordable source of care and is often aligned with local cultural practices.

According to Mexico’s Ministry of Health, traditional indigenous medicine is based on accumulated knowledge on health and disease developed by Indigenous peoples over time. It is rooted in a holistic worldview that emphasizes balance among the body, nature, spiritual forces and the cosmos. Health and illness are understood as expressions of equilibrium or imbalance, giving rise to a complex medical system with its own concepts of disease, diagnostic practices and therapeutic approaches focused on restoring harmony within individuals and their broader social and natural environments.

Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO, said the organization aims to bridge long-standing knowledge with modern science and technology to expand access to health care. He emphasized the role of innovation, including artificial intelligence and genomics, in assessing traditional medicine more rigorously and applying it responsibly.

The summit takes place as health systems worldwide face mounting pressure. WHO estimates that 4.6 billion people lack access to essential health services and more than 2 billion experience financial hardship when seeking care. WHO officials argue that integrating traditional medicine into health systems can help expand access to people-centered care and support progress toward universal health coverage.

Emerging evidence suggests that such integration may generate cost efficiencies and improve health outcomes, particularly through prevention and health promotion. WHO experts also note potential system-level benefits, including more appropriate use of antibiotics.

Effective integration, however, depends on consistent scientific standards, quality and safety controls, and strong regulation. Sylvie Briand,Chief Scientist, WHO said traditional and biomedical treatments should be assessed with the same level of scientific rigor, while respecting biodiversity, cultural contexts and ethical principles. She highlighted the potential of technologies such as systems biology, neuroscience and advanced data analytics to improve research and validation.

The summit also addresses innovation and investment gaps. Traditional medicine underpins growing global industries, including herbal medicines, and natural resources account for all traditional formulations and more than half of biomedical pharmaceuticals. Indigenous Peoples, who represent about 6% of the global population, steward roughly 40% of the world’s biodiversity, raising questions around intellectual property, fair trade and benefit sharing.

Despite its widespread use, less than 1% of global health research funding is allocated to traditional medicine. To address this gap, WHO announced the launch of the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a new digital platform containing more than 1.6 million scientific records on research, policies and regulations. Developed following calls from G20 and BRICS leaders in 2023, the library aims to improve access to peer-reviewed content, particularly for institutions in lower-income countries, through the Research4Life initiative.

WHO officials said the platform will also support countries in documenting traditional medicine while strengthening intellectual property protections and scientific capacity. Shyama Kuruvilla, Acting Director of the Global Traditional Medicine Centre, WHO, described the effort as an evidence-based and ethical priority with environmental implications.

The summit, running from Dec. 17 to 19, is expected to conclude with new commitments from governments and stakeholders, as well as a call to establish a global consortium to accelerate implementation of the WHO strategy at scale.