WHO moot on traditional medicines ends in India

GANDHINAGAR, India: The inaugural Global Summit on Traditional Medicine organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded with a commitment from an array of partner groups and stakeholders to harness the potential of evidence-based traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) for promoting universal health coverage and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The summit brought together health ministers from G20 nations and other countries, along with scientists, traditional medicine practitioners, healthcare workers, and civil society members from 88 countries.

It provided an avenue for the participants to exchange their unique insights, best practices, and ideas for collaborative efforts. The assembly included representatives from diverse indigenous peoples across the globe, such as Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, and New Zealand, among others. For these communities, TCIM practices hold a fundamental role not only in healthcare but also in preserving culture and sustaining livelihoods.

Advancing evidence and innovations, early findings shared during the summit from the WHO Global Survey on Traditional Medicine 2023 revealed that nearly 100 countries have formulated national policies and strategies related to TCIM.

In numerous WHO member states, TCIM treatments are incorporated into essential medicine lists, essential health service packages, and are covered by national health insurance programmes. A substantial majority of individuals seek out traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine interventions for addressing non-communicable diseases, palliative care, and rehabilitation.

Dr Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage and the Life Course at WHO, emphasised the necessity for a "more robust evidence base," which stands as a priority for WHO. This base will facilitate countries in formulating appropriate regulations and policies concerning traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine.

The summit underscored the pivotal role that artificial intelligence can play in extracting insights from complex data regarding traditional medicine. These insights can help identify practices that exhibit potential for further scientific evaluation. With ethical and equitable safeguards in place, this evidence has the potential to translate into policies that expedite the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into healthcare systems.

Upon concluding the summit, Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated, "Collectively, we have initiated a shift away from the longstanding separation of different medical approaches and health strategies. By breaking down these divisions, we are expressing our commitment to collaborative efforts that optimise the incorporation of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine within primary healthcare and universal health coverage." Dr Kluge also emphasised the significance of improving evidence regarding the effectiveness, safety, and quality of traditional and complementary medicine, urging innovative methods for evaluating outcomes.

Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Senior Strategic Adviser and lead for the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Centre, who was instrumental in organising the summit, remarked, "We have gained valuable insights into existing policies, tools, and practices. However, it is evident that our journey to utilise science for better understanding, development, and delivery of TCIM approaches to enhance human health and well-being in harmony with our sustaining planet is a lengthy one."

The summary document from the summit encapsulated conclusions and commitments from participants on a wide array of matters, spanning from global policy and leadership to innovation, healthcare workforce, data, evidence, monitoring, regulation, legal frameworks, and the preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development.