INDIA – The long-awaited event organized by the World Health Organization under the title “Traditional Medicine Global Summit” has begun in the capital of the state of Gujarat in India.
The WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, which ends on 18th August 2023, is being held at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
It is co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush, which regulates the educational standards of the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy colleges in the country
Under the theme “Towards health and well-being for all”, the Traditional Medicine Global Summit is being held in a hybrid mode as it can be accessed by both in-person participants and virtual participants.
The summit aims to mobilize political commitment and evidence-based action on traditional medicine, a first port of call for millions worldwide to address their health and well-being needs.
On his part, Union Minister of State for Ayush, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai said: “By blending traditional practices with contemporary practices aided by visionary policies and digital initiatives, India has demonstrated a path for achieving universal health coverage through traditional medicine systems.”
On its debut edition in the city of Gandhinagar, the Traditional Medicine Global Summit will be held alongside the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting under G20 India Presidency to strengthen the role of the event.
The summit, co-hosted in collaboration with the Government of India, focuses on the role of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine in tackling urgent health challenges while propelling advancements in global health and sustainable development.
Among the esteemed participants gracing this summit are WHO Director General, Regional Directors, G20 health ministers, and dignitaries from nations spanning WHO’s six regions.
The distinguished gathering will also feature scientists, practitioners of traditional medicine, healthcare professionals, and representatives from civil society organizations.
A central theme of the summit will be the exploration of avenues to amplify scientific progress and harness the potential of evidence-based knowledge in leveraging traditional medicine for the holistic well-being of individuals worldwide.
Unsurprisingly, the two-day event comes at a pivotal time when over 170 of WHO’s 194 Member States have reported the use of herbal medicines, acupuncture, yoga, indigenous therapies, and other traditional forms of medicine.
In response to this increased global interest and demand, WHO established the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in March 2022 with the support of the Government of India.
The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine serves as a knowledge hub with a mission to catalyze ancient wisdom and modern science for the health and well-being of people and the planet.
The Centre focuses on partnership, evidence, data, biodiversity, and innovation to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health, universal health coverage, and sustainable development. It is also guided by respect for local heritages, resources, and rights.
Hence, the Traditional Medicine Global Summit’s outcome will be a declaration, which will assist the World Health Organization in shaping the future of its global centre for traditional medicine.
The first-of-its-kind summit ushers a new era in the evidence-based integration of traditional medicine for the health and well-being of people and the planet.
Commenting on these milestones, Dr. Mahendrabhai Kalubhai said: “It is very natural that after the foundation laying ceremony of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar last year, we are going to witness this first global event in India. It testifies to the multi-dimensional strides taken by various traditional medicine systems of our country in the recent past.”
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