Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Friday called for faster and coordinated global action to restore balance in health and well-being, as he addressed the closing ceremony of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Highlighting India’s growing leadership in the field, the Prime Minister underlined that traditional medicine must be evidence-based, scientifically validated, safe and globally trusted, positioning it as an integral component of modern, people-centred healthcare systems.
The summit concluded after intensive deliberations among global leaders, policymakers, scientists and practitioners, forging a strong international consensus on integration, equity and scientific credibility.
India’s Leadership in Traditional Medicine
The Prime Minister expressed pride that the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has rapidly emerged as a global hub for collaboration, research, regulation and capacity building since its launch in 2022. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to serve as a collaborative platform for strengthening international partnerships in traditional medicine, reflecting growing global trust in India’s leadership.
Restoring Balance: A Global Health Imperative
Referring to the summit theme—“Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being”—the Prime Minister noted that balance lies at the heart of holistic health, as articulated in Ayurveda. He observed that many contemporary health challenges, including lifestyle disorders and chronic diseases, stem from various forms of imbalance, making restoration of balance a global urgency, particularly amid rapidly changing technology-driven lifestyles.
Science, Evidence and Global Trust
Emphasising credibility and trust, the Prime Minister stressed that traditional medicine must be backed by scientific validation, robust regulatory frameworks and digital innovation. He highlighted initiatives such as the Traditional Medicine Global Library, launched during the summit, which aims to ensure equitable global access to scientific data, policy resources and validated knowledge.
Citing Ashwagandha as a time-tested herb gaining international acceptance, the Prime Minister noted that India is advancing its global credibility through rigorous research on safety, quality and usage, particularly after heightened global interest during the COVID-19 period.
Integration with Modern Healthcare
The Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare systems, including efforts to strengthen integrative cancer care and develop evidence-based guidelines. He stressed that traditional medicine’s role extends beyond wellness into critical public health domains when supported by research and standardisation.
Global Recognition from WHO
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded India for elevating traditional medicine from heritage to mainstream, evidence-informed healthcare. Recalling the Prime Minister’s call for global collaboration during India’s G20 Presidency, Dr Tedros said it triggered unprecedented international engagement.
He described traditional medicine as a living and evolving science, central to modern healthcare, and welcomed the adoption of the Delhi Declaration as a landmark step forward. He noted that India’s initiatives—such as the Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO Global Centre in Jamnagar—have contributed meaningfully to universal health coverage and sustainable development worldwide.
National Commitment to Integrative Healthcare
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda emphasised India’s commitment to advancing AYUSH through evidence-based approaches and integrating it with modern medicine for preventive and holistic healthcare. He highlighted the integration of AYUSH into premier institutions like AIIMS through dedicated AYUSH blocks, enabling synergy across healthcare systems.
Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav described traditional medicine as a central pillar of people-centred healthcare, supported by scientific validation, digital technologies and international cooperation. He urged Member States to translate summit outcomes into concrete national actions.
Key Launches and Milestones
During the event, the Prime Minister and the WHO Director-General jointly inaugurated the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office building in New Delhi. The Prime Minister also launched:
-
Traditional Medicine Global Library
-
My Ayush Integrated Services Portal (MAISP)
-
Ayush Mark, envisioned as a global quality benchmark
-
A commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha
-
WHO technical report on Yoga training
-
The book “From Roots to Global Reach: 11 Years of Transformation in Ayush”
He also presented the Prime Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion and Development of Yoga, recognising exemplary national and international contributions.
Conclusion
The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, reaffirming traditional medicine as a shared biocultural heritage and committing Member States to strengthening evidence, regulation, integration and cross-sector collaboration under the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. The summit marked a clear shift from dialogue to action, reinforcing India’s leadership and a shared global commitment to safe, effective, equitable and sustainable healthcare for all.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
