India Begins Countdown to 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
India has officially launched the countdown to the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, which will be co‑hosted by the Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization from 17–19 December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event follows India’s successful hosting of the first summit in Gujarat in 2023, reaffirming the country’s role as a global leader in traditional health systems.
The 2025 summit will revolve around the theme “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well‑being.”
Key focus areas includem
Participation is expected from over 100 countries, including ministers, policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, public health experts, and traditional medicine practitioners.
Shri Jadhav underscored India’s centuries‑old Ayush systems—Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa‑Rigpa, and Homoeopathy—which have become popular worldwide as holistic healing systems.
A major milestone in India’s global leadership is the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, developed through India–WHO partnership. This reflects growing international confidence in India’s knowledge systems.
A dedicated side event on Ashwagandha—one of India’s most studied medicinal plants—will run alongside the summit. The session aims to bridge ancient wisdom with modern research, highlighting,
Experts from academia, healthcare, industry, and global organizations will contribute insights, strengthening Ashwagandha’s acceptance in international health markets.
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal, Senior Advisor on Traditional Medicine to the WHO Director‑General, called the summit a milestone for global health governance, noting that it will shape a decade‑long roadmap for integrating traditional and Indigenous medicine into health systems.
She emphasized,
This aligns with rising global demand for integrative medicine that balances scientific validation with traditional healing practices.
Traditional medicine refers to health practices rooted in cultural knowledge—including herbal medicine, spiritual therapies, yoga, acupuncture, naturopathy, and Indigenous healing systems.
Globally, more than 80% of people use some form of traditional medicine, especially in primary care.
Modern healthcare trends increasingly focus on,
The WHO summit provides a platform to address all these dimensions.
The curtain raiser saw participation from senior leaders of the Ministry of Ayush, Press Information Bureau, and WHO. It builds on a prior Ambassadors’ Reception held in November 2025, where diplomats were briefed about India‑WHO collaboration.
The Prime Minister is expected to attend the closing ceremony, reinforcing India’s political commitment to global health cooperation.
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