Prime Highlights
- The Ministry of Ayush and WHO hosted an Ambassadors’ Reception in New Delhi ahead of the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, set for December 17–19.
- The event emphasized the importance of traditional medicine in promoting global health and encouraged stronger international cooperation for accessible healthcare.
Key Facts
- Over 170 countrieshave already integrated traditional medicine into their healthcare systems, highlighting its global acceptance.
- The upcoming summit, themed “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Wellbeing,”will be held in collaboration with the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar.
Background:
The Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO) hosted an Ambassadors’ Reception in New Delhi on Monday ahead of the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, which will be held in the capital from December 17 to 19.
The event brought together ambassadors to discuss traditional medicine and promote global cooperation for better healthcare.
Union Minister of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, described the summit as a milestone in building equitable and integrative health frameworks across the globe. He said traditional medicine reflects our culture, shared wisdom, and long-standing knowledge of nature and health.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, highlighted the summit’s theme, “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Wellbeing,” as a reflection of India’s commitment to holistic health. He added that India, in partnership with WHO, is advancing research and standardization efforts to ensure credibility and quality assurance in traditional medicine practices.
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal, former Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, said that traditional medicine plays an important role in achieving the global goal of “Health for All,” with 170 countries already using it in their healthcare systems. She emphasized the growing momentum for people-centred, evidence-based approaches to health.
Ambassador Sibi George from the Ministry of External Affairs praised India’s key role in shaping global frameworks for traditional medicine.
The event ended with Dr. Catharina Boehme, Senior Advisor to the WHO Director-General, emphasizing that traditional medicine is an important part of global health efforts.
The upcoming summit will focus on strengthening international cooperation and promoting innovation in traditional medicine to support a healthier and more sustainable world.
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