WHO Global Summit signifies increased role of India in the field of traditional medicine

The summit outcome in the form of Gujarat declaration to be made public soon by WHO: Union Ayush Minister  

Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal said that the ever first Global Summit on traditional medicine organised by World Health Organisation, and co-hosted by Ministry of Ayush, in Gandhinagar has proved to be historic in many ways. He said “the main outcomes of the global summit will be soon released by World Health Organisation in the form of Gujarat declaration. In the summit, WHO also has shared the initial findings of the global survey on traditional medicine that clearly indicates that the reach of traditional medicine is on rise across the globe. As per WHO the final survey will be released in November this Year”.

Union Minister further said that also spelled out the importance of Gujarat Declaration and said that declaration will soon be made public by WHO. “Gujarat Declaration will emphasise that the importance of traditional medicine is recognised for attainment of UHC and WHO’s commitment to work toward it through evidence generation and policy support to member states”, the Minister reiterated.

Talking about the increasing acceptance of traditional medicine worldwide, Sonowal said that initial findings of the latest Global Survey on traditional medicine by World Health Organisation were also placed before the summit participants and were deliberated upon. He further added that the final survey will be released in November this year. Initial findings of this survey tell us that 97 out of 157-member states of WHO have National Policies regarding traditional medicine.

The Union Minister Sonowal elaborated on the Ministry of Ayush efforts on expanding the scope and work of Indian Systems of traditional medicine and said that five bilateral meet with Nepal, Malaysia, Qatar, Venezuela and Cuba proved very successful. India has invited all the countries involved in bilateral meet to share best practices and benefit from the work going on in India in the field of traditional medicine. These bilateral meetings has provided an opportunity for renewing of ties, and also exploring various initiatives for research, practices, education and training in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional medicine system.

The Minister informed that the first ever Global Summit on traditional medicine by World Health Organisation will also be remembered for the firm commitment and vision of PM Modi that resulted in first establishing Global centre of Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat and thereafter the first ever Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was also organised in India. The significance of the Summit can be ascertained from the facts that the outcomes of the event will not only be of help in shaping the work scope of Global Centre of Traditional Medicine, but will also reflect in the World Health Organisation’s strategy document for 2025-2034 on Traditional Medicine.

The Union Minister also talked about emerging fields in traditional medicine and said that, “Digital Health Services are in demand globally, and there is tremendous potential in traditional medicine to provide evidence based health services to the entire mankind These were discussed in detail in this Summit and in coming days lot of important work will happen through Global Centre of Traditional Medicine of Jamnagar. “

Minister further said that the summit gained another advantage as it was held on the sidelines of G20 Health Ministers meet and thereby provided opportunity to Health Ministers of various countries to have discourse on Traditional Medicine on G20 platform. The outcome of Health Ministers Meeting of G20 countries is also strongly indicative of the commitment of member countries for the use of scientific and evidence based Traditional Medicine for Universal Health Coverage.