WHA78: Traditional medicine takes centre stage

Traditional medicine was in the spotlight during the 78th World Health Assembly, 19–27 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, with delegates emphasizing research, innovation, regulation, equity and collaboration to accelerate the integration of traditional medicine in health systems around the world. A major milestone was achieved on 26 May 2025, when the Member States agreed on the new WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 to take forward the development of evidence-based practice of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) into the next decade. In discussing the  Strategy, Member States deliberated on crucial components for inclusion, such as establishing a robust evidence base for traditional medicine practices, developing regulatory mechanisms for quality and safety, creating integrated health-care service delivery models where appropriate, and ensuring qualified practitioners. With the Strategy, the Assembly explicitly recognized not only the role of traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples but also the importance of upholding their rights, while promoting environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation in the context of TCIM. Under the 2025-2034 Strategy, WHO will assist Member States in strengthening the evidence base for TCIM, bolstering safety, quality and effectiveness, and, where appropriate, facilitating its integration into health systems while optimizing cross-sector collaboration. The adoption of the Strategy capped an intensive two-year process of global and regional consultations. During the process, Member States, WHO at all three levels, stakeholders and partners, including indigenous representatives and representatives of the  World Intellectual Property Organization, provided over 1200 comments. Forty-seven  interventions were made during the discussion at the Assembly . All statements were positive, encouraging and supportive of the new Strategy. In addition, there were four interventions from non-State actors. Building momentum The adoption of the Strategy followed a series of high-profile side events during this year’s Assembly. On 20 May 2025, ministers, global health leaders and experts gathered for the event titled “Improving Universal Health Coverage through the Implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034”. hosted by China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in collaboration with Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles. The event underscored global momentum behind the Strategy and emphasized China’s influential contributions in policy, education, research and traditional medicine integration into the health-care system. On 23 May 2025, India, together with 31 Member States of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM), hosted a second official side event, entitled “Traditional Medicine: From Traditional Knowledge to Frontier Science, for Health for All”. The event highlighted India as a role model and success story for the GFTM countries.  With over 250 delegates in attendance, the event showcased national experiences and reaffirmed global commitment to traditional medicine.Read more about these high-profile side events. Private sector support The role of private sector support for scaling up evidence-based interventions for traditional medicine was explored during a panel discussion on 20 May 2025, convened by the Geneva-based Health Innovation Exchange. The event brought together high-level speakers, including: Dr Pierre Somsé, Minister of Public Health and Population of the Central African Republic;Dr Benjamin Njoudalbaye, interim head of the African Union’s Africa Medicines Agency; Aditya Burman, Director, Dabur India; and Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i., WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre. The panel underscored the need for innovative and sustainable financing models to scale up innovations, as well as related challenges, including the need for standardized frameworks to address regulatory gaps, protect indigenous knowledge and ensure equitable benefit-sharing. Also discussed was the ethical use of tools like artificial intelligence to validate and scale practices. Delegates were united in the message that bridging gaps can accelerate the path to universal health coverage and produce more inclusive economies and improved planetary health. Watch the session here. Launches and announcements The World Health Assembly was also the setting for showcasing innovative tools. WHO launched the first-ever WHO Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) Dashboards on 21 May 2025, featuring comprehensive global and country-level profiles. The project builds on insights from the Third WHO Global Survey on TCIM, conducted between April 2023 and March 2024, and marks a significant leap forward in WHO’s data modernization agenda. The new dashboards transform static survey data into a dynamic, real-time digital platform, empowering Member States to continuously update and manage their national TCIM data. During the Assembly, the Government of India’s Ministry of Ayush signed a US$ 3 million Memorandum of Understanding with WHO to support the inclusion of Traditional Medicine in the International Classification of Health Interventions. This initiative will classify and standardize traditional Ayush medical practices like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, ensuring they are globally recognized within health-care data frameworks. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the agreement on social media, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it in his national radio address, Mann Ki Baat, as a proud milestone for India.Engaging with delegates To promote awareness and visibility of WHO’s work on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, “Ask Me” information stands were set up on 21 May 2025 during WHA78. These interactive hubs offered delegates and participants an opportunity to explore the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, the newly launched TCIM dashboards, and key areas of WHO’s ongoing work in TCIM.Looking ahead to the Global Summit The adoption of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 reflects a global consensus that TCIM, when validated and regulated, offers powerful solutions for advancing equity, inclusion and resilience in health care. As countries move from Strategy to action, the emphasis will be on building trust, supporting research and creating space for traditional medicine within national health plans. The second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, to be held in New Delhi on 2–4 December 2025, will be a key opportunity to align all stakeholders in joint action behind the goals of the Strategy, and to share evidence and best practices to accelerate learning and innovation.In the mediaThe Lancet, WHA adopts new strategy on traditional medicineChina Daily, TCM in spotlight at WHA side eventHealth Policy Watch, WHO’s Big Push to Integrate Traditional Medicine into Global Healthcare FrameworkThe Times of India, Ayush ministry signs MoU with WHO to create module for traditional Indian medicine