The World Health Organization (WHO) Second World Summit on Traditional Medicine, jointly organized with the Government of India, opens today, bringing together government ministers, scientists, indigenous leaders and practitioners from more than 100 countries. The Summit is expected to announce major scientific initiatives and new commitments aimed at advancing the implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, focusing on stronger evidence, improved legislation, systems integration, collaboration and community engagement.
Traditional medicine (TM) includes codified and non-codified systems that predate biomedicine and have continued to evolve for modern use. For many, TM remains the primary source of health care—locally accessible, affordable, and bio-culturally aligned—and for many more, it is a preferred, personalized, and more natural health option. Almost 90% of WHO Member States (170 out of 194) report that 40–90% of their population use TM.
“WHO is committed to bringing together the wisdom of millennia with the power of modern science and technology to realize the vision of health for all,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By engaging responsibly, ethically and fairly, and leveraging innovation from artificial intelligence to genomics, we can unlock the potential of traditional medicine to deliver safer, smarter and more sustainable health solutions for every community and for our planet.”
Strengthening evidence, regulation and integration of TM in health systems
In a world facing increasing challenges to health systems, almost half of the world’s population – 4.6 billion – do not have access to basic health services, while a quarter – over 2 billion people – face financial difficulties accessing healthcare. Integrating TM into health systems is critical to expanding access and choice to affordable, people-centered health care and to promoting UHC, ensuring that everyone can get the health care they need without financial strain.
Emerging evidence shows that integrating TM into health systems can provide cost efficiencies and improve health outcomes. This integration emphasizes prevention and health promotion, contributing to broader health benefits such as more appropriate use of antibiotics.
Achieving effective integration requires robust science, global quality and safety standards, and strong regulatory mechanisms. “We must apply the same scientific rigor to the evaluation and validation of biomedicine and traditional medicines, while respecting biodiversity, cultural particularities and ethical principles,” said Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO’s chief scientist. “Stronger collaborations and cutting-edge technologies – such as artificial intelligence, genomics, systems biology, neuroscience and advanced data analytics – can transform the way we study and practice traditional medicine.”
Promoting innovation, investment and sustainable benefits
TM supports fast-growing global industries such as herbal medicines. All TM formulations, and more than half of biomedical pharmaceuticals, are derived from natural resources, which remain a vital source for new drug discovery. Indigenous peoples protect approximately 40% of the world’s biodiversity while representing just 6% of the world’s population. Promoting TM requires addressing indigenous rights, fair trade and benefit sharing.
Despite the widespread use and vital role of TM in natural resource management for health and well-being, less than 1% of global health research funding is devoted to TM. To help fill knowledge and research gaps, WHO is launching the World Library of Traditional Medicine, the first of its kind, comprising more than 1.6 million scientific records covering research, policy, regulations and thematic collections in various TM applications.
Developed in response to calls from heads of state at the G20 and BRICS meetings in 2023, the Library also provides equitable online access to peer-reviewed content for institutions in lower-income countries through the Research4Life initiative. It also supports countries in documenting TM with intellectual property protection and building scientific capacity to promote innovation.
“The promotion of traditional medicine is an evidence-based, ethical and environmental imperative,” said Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director of the WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine. “The Global Summit advances the conditions and partnerships needed for TM to contribute at scale to the flourishing of all people and the planet.”
The Summit (17–19 December 2025, New Delhi) will also announce new commitments from governments and other stakeholders, alongside a call for a global consortium to address systemic gaps and accelerate implementation of the Global IT Strategy at scale.
