Traditional Medicine Paves a Bold Future for Global Health
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held recently in New Delhi, marked a major milestone for global health. The event drew over 16,000 online registrations and brought together 800 delegates from more than 100 countries, including ministers from over 20 nations. This gathering of global leaders from the traditional medicine community shared insights on how traditional medicine can strengthen health systems with safe, evidence-based, and affordable care.
The energy in Delhi was palpable as ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, and practitioners came together to advance the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. The summit was not just about dialogue – it was about action. World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a first-of-its-kind digital platform consolidating 1.6 million resources on traditional medicine, from scientific studies to Indigenous knowledge.
With advanced features like Evidence Gap Maps and an AI-powered tool, TMGL GPT, the Library promises to transform access to trusted information and accelerate research worldwide. This innovative resource will enable researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to tap into a vast array of knowledge and expertise, ultimately enhancing our understanding of traditional medicine’s potential to address global health challenges.
The Future of Traditional Medicine: Innovation and Collaboration
Innovation took center stage with the launch of Health & Heritage Innovations (H2I), an initiative to nurture breakthrough ideas that bridge traditional practices with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, genomics, and digital health. From over 1,000 submissions, 21 finalists were announced at the summit and will enter a year-long acceleration program to refine prototypes, receive scientific and regulatory guidance, and connect with policymakers and investors.
This effort underscores the importance of collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in driving innovation and scaling impact. By harnessing the power of technology and expertise from diverse fields, we can unlock new opportunities for traditional medicine to address pressing global health issues.
The Power of Collective Action: Delhi Declaration and Beyond
Countries rallied behind the Delhi Declaration, with commitments from 26 Member States, signaling a new era for traditional medicine. This collective pledge focuses on integrating traditional medicine into primary health care, strengthening regulation and safety standards, investing in research, and building interoperable data systems to track outcomes.
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By committing to integrate traditional medicine into primary health care, countries are acknowledging its potential to address some of the most pressing health challenges facing modern societies, including the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and inequitable access to health services. By working together, we can ensure that traditional medicine is not a parallel system but a driver of universal health coverage.
A Bold Future for Global Health: Charting the Course Ahead
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Through the Delhi Commitment, countries have agreed not only on why traditional medicine matters – but on how to act.” Traditional medicine can help address many of the threats to health of our modern world: the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases; inequitable access to health services; and climate change.
Looking ahead, WHO will work with Member States to turn these commitments into reality – scaling access to trusted knowledge, accelerating innovation, and embedding traditional medicine into health systems everywhere. The Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 charts a bold course toward a future where care is more inclusive, culturally grounded, and resilient. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of traditional medicine to drive positive change in global health.
