Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the opening session of the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in Delhi to underscore the urgency of a coordinated international approach to harnessing age‑old healing systems. While the world grapples with rising healthcare costs and chronic disease burdens, the summit presented a rare platform where policymakers, scientists, and industry leaders converged to discuss how traditional knowledge can complement modern medicine. Modi’s remarks highlighted India’s ambition to lead this dialogue, positioning the country as a bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary scientific rigor, and calling for shared research, equitable trade, and robust regulatory frameworks.
Global vision for traditional medicine
The summit’s agenda framed traditional medicine not merely as cultural heritage but as a strategic asset for global health security. Delegates from over 120 nations pledged to integrate validated traditional practices into national health systems, aiming to expand access to affordable care, especially in low‑resource settings. Emphasis was placed on aligning the World Health Organization’s Traditional and Complementary Medicine strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby ensuring that research, safety standards, and intellectual‑property rights evolve in tandem.
India’s leadership and policy framework
Modi outlined India’s recent legislative milestones, including the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which together create a scalable model for integrating Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy into public health delivery. By leveraging the country’s extensive pharmacopeia and its burgeoning biotech sector, India aims to set global benchmarks for quality control, clinical validation, and market access. The Prime Minister also announced a dedicated fund of $500 million to support cross‑border research collaborations, underscoring the nation’s commitment to translating traditional knowledge into evidence‑based therapeutics.
Scientific collaboration and research agenda
Researchers highlighted the need for rigorous clinical trials, standardized pharmacovigilance, and open‑access data repositories. A proposed “Global Registry of Traditional Medicines” would catalog formulations, dosage regimens, and safety profiles, enabling meta‑analyses across diverse populations. The following table captures the key metrics announced at the summit, reflecting the latest data up to 19 December 2025:
| Metric | Value (as of 19 Dec 2025) |
|---|---|
| Countries represented | 120 |
| Traditional systems discussed | 8 (including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani, etc.) |
| Research papers presented | 250 |
| Funding pledged for joint projects | $500 million |
These figures illustrate the scale of commitment and the breadth of expertise converging at the summit, laying the groundwork for multi‑year, multicenter trials that could reshape therapeutic landscapes.
Economic and social implications
Beyond health outcomes, the integration of traditional medicine promises substantial economic dividends. The World Trade Organization estimates that the global market for herbal and traditional products could exceed $200 billion by 2030, driven by rising consumer demand for natural remedies. For emerging economies, this translates into job creation across cultivation, processing, and distribution chains, while also safeguarding indigenous knowledge through intellectual‑property safeguards. Socially, the endorsement of culturally resonant therapies is expected to improve patient adherence, reduce stigma, and foster community‑based health initiatives.
In conclusion, the WHO Traditional Medicine Summit, amplified by Prime Minister Modi’s call for global partnership, marks a pivotal moment in the convergence of ancient healing traditions and modern scientific inquiry. By establishing shared research standards, mobilising financial resources, and championing inclusive policy frameworks, the international community is poised to unlock the therapeutic potential of traditional medicine on a scale previously unimaginable. The next few years will test the durability of these commitments, but the roadmap laid out in Delhi offers a clear, collaborative pathway toward healthier, more sustainable societies worldwide.
Image by: Sayed Masoumi
https://www.pexels.com/@sayed-masoumi-143968372
