Traditional Medicine and Global Health
The global community is increasingly recognizing the importance of traditional medicine in addressing issues like lifestyle diseases, environmental degradation, and social fragmentation. This approach emphasizes restoring balance between human health and nature.
Understanding Health
- Health is viewed as not merely the absence of illness but as a state of equilibrium within the body and with nature.
- The science of well-being is being reaffirmed through evidence-based research, respecting traditional medicine practices.
Traditional Medicine's Role
- WHO reports that around 90% of its member states use traditional medicine.
- Traditional medicine is essential in low- and middle-income countries for its affordability and accessibility.
- Beyond health care, it supports biodiversity, nutrition, food security, and livelihoods.
India's Contribution
- India's AYUSH sector is valued at $43.4 billion, reflecting a shift toward preventive and personalized healthcare.
- India is a hub for research and development in traditional medicine, influencing the global sector.
World Health Organization's Role
- The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, acts as a hub for evidence-based collaboration.
- The centre focuses on sustainability, equity, and respect for local heritages and resources.
Global Initiatives
- The first WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in 2023 highlighted the need for integration into national health systems.
- The Gujarat Declaration emphasized biodiversity, fair benefit-sharing, and equitable access to traditional health knowledge.
Future Directions
- WHO and India will host the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in December 2025, focusing on aligning traditional medicine with modern health priorities.
- The event will support the WHO’s new 10-year Global Traditional Medicine Strategy (2025–34).
India's integration of traditional knowledge with modern science exemplifies a balance necessary for future health paradigms.