In a landmark step that blends ancient wisdom with modern science, India and the World Health Organization (WHO) have announced their partnership to co-host the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from December 17 to 19, 2025.
This global gathering will bring together health ministers, policy experts, researchers, and practitioners from over 100 countries to discuss how traditional healing systems—like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Chinese medicine—can play a more prominent role in global healthcare.
A Legacy Continued
India, known as the birthplace of Ayurveda and other time-tested healing systems, previously hosted the first WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in 2023 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. That event led to the creation of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM)—a first-of-its-kind institute headquartered in Jamnagar.
Now, two years later, the upcoming 2025 summit aims to review progress, promote innovation, and integrate traditional systems into primary healthcare frameworks across nations.
Bridging Ancient and Modern Science
The summit’s theme—“Healing the Future: Integrating Tradition with Innovation”—reflects a new global outlook. WHO and India intend to promote evidence-based research, encourage startups in herbal and holistic healthcare, and create global benchmarks for safety and efficacy in traditional therapies.
Experts believe this collaboration could lead to new international standards for herbal formulations, therapeutic practices, and sustainable sourcing of medicinal plants.
A Global Movement Gaining Momentum
Traditional medicine today serves nearly 80% of the world’s population, according to WHO estimates. With rising lifestyle diseases and antibiotic resistance, people across continents are turning back to holistic healing.
Countries like Japan, China, and South Korea have already integrated traditional medicine into their healthcare systems. India’s leadership in hosting the 2025 summit marks a pivotal move to position itself as a global hub for evidence-based traditional health solutions.
Voices from Leadership
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized that this summit would “help create a bridge between the knowledge of the past and the needs of the present.”
Meanwhile, India’s Health Minister stated that “this partnership reaffirms India’s commitment to making traditional medicine a trusted pillar of universal health coverage.”
Looking Ahead
The New Delhi summit is expected to unveil several initiatives:
- Global funding mechanisms for traditional medicine research.
- A digital repository of verified traditional formulations.
- Cross-country collaborations for plant-based pharmaceuticals.
By the end of 2025, WHO and India hope to transform ancient healing wisdom into a scientifically backed, globally recognized healthcare movement.
