India to Co-Host 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi

The summit will convene global experts - including WHO leadership and AYUSH officials to advance scientific evidence, safety frameworks, and innovation in traditional medicine.

India is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the global direction of traditional medicine as it prepares to co-host the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from December 17-19.

The summit comes at a time when worldwide interest in preventive, culturally rooted and evidence-based traditional health systems is growing rapidly, reaffirming India’s leadership in this space.

Union Minister of AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav said the summit represents a major opportunity for India to further strengthen the global presence of its traditional systems, noting that integrative healthcare has become a priority for many nations.

“India has always believed that traditional medicine is not just treatment, but a way of life. This summit will help the world understand the depth and potential of these systems,” Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of AYUSH, Government of India, said.

The upcoming event builds on the momentum of the first WHO Global Summit held in Gujarat in 2023, where the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General, World Health Organization, said that WHO leadership has emphasized the growing importance of traditional medicine in global public health. “There is enormous global interest in traditional and complementary health systems, and countries are increasingly looking for validated, holistic approaches to care,” he said.

This year’s program will include discussions on biodiversity conservation for medicinal plants, standardized pharmacological research, digital tools for traditional medicine and international regulatory cooperation.

The summit will also showcase innovations emerging from India’s AYUSH institutions and global collaborations aimed at strengthening the scientific credibility of traditional practices.

Over the past two years, India has deepened its international partnerships to support evidence generation, clinical validation, and capacity building in traditional medicine.

India aims to use the platform to highlight its progress in integrative healthcare and facilitate meaningful dialogue that supports sustainable, comprehensive health solutions across borders.

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