The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Government of India, has launched the second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine (TM). This summit brings together practitioners, ministers, and indigenous leaders as well as researchers from >100 countries. It declares new global commitments and scientific initiatives that support the WHO global TM strategy from 2025 to 2034. This strategy focuses on engaging communities, improving health regulations, encouraging collaboration, building stronger real-world evidence, and integrating TM into healthcare systems.
TM includes both non-codified and codified systems. These systems existed before modern medicine and continue to evolve today. TM is the main source of healthcare for many people due to its accessibility and affordability, as well as cultural relevance. Others prefer this type of medicine because it is perceived as natural and personalized. TM is used by 40-90% of the population in about 90% (170/194) of WHO member states. This indicates its extensive global use.
Global healthcare systems are under increasing pressure. Approximately 4.6 billion individuals lack access to essential health services. More than 2 billion people face financial hardship when seeking care. Integrating TM into the health system can enhance access to affordable healthcare. It also reinforces progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), which ensures that individuals do not face financial problems due to medical treatment.
TM also supports the fast-growing global industries such as herbal medicines. Many TM formulations and more than half of modern medications are synthesized from natural resources. Indigenous peoples protect approximately 40% of global biodiversity, which represents only 6% of the world’s population. Advancing TM must therefore respect indigenous rights, promote fair trade, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing.
Evidence demonstrates that integration of TM can reduce healthcare costs and improve clinical outcomes. TM focuses strongly on health promotion and prevention. This approach supports more appropriate use of drugs, including antibiotics. Effective integration of TM requires strong scientific evidence, global standards for safety and quality, and strong regulatory frameworks.
WHO calls for applying the same level of scientific rigour to TM as to biomedicine, while respecting ethical principles, biodiversity, and cultural practices. New science and technology can strengthen TM research. These include genomics, advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and neuroscience.
WHO is launching the Traditional Medicine Global Library to address this gap. This library contains >1.6 million scientific documents. It supports regulations, research, and policy. It provides equitable access for low-income countries. It also helps protect intellectual property and strengthens scientific capacity.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the WHO aims to combine knowledge of ancient science with modern science and technology. He emphasized equitable and ethical use. He also highlighted the role of innovations like genomics and AI in making TM sustainable and safer, more effective, and more sustainable for global communities.
This Global Summit will be held in New Delhi, India, from December 17, 2025, to December 19, 2025. It will announce new commitments and launch a global consortium to support implementation of the WHO global TM strategy.
Reference: World Health Organization. WHO hosts the second Global Summit to advance evidence, integration, and innovation for traditional medicine. Published on December 17, 2025. Accessed on December 18, 2025. WHO hosts the second Global Summit to advance evidence, integration and innovation for traditional medicine
