WHO to unveil initiatives promoting safe, science-backed traditional medicine

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says new scientific tools are creating an unprecedented opportunity to rigorously evaluate and safely integrate traditional medicine into modern health systems.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday from Geneva, WHO experts said traditional medicine has become a “global reality”, noting that many member states are relying on it as a first or preferred form of care.

The briefing was held ahead of the second WHO global summit on traditional medicine scheduled for December 17 to 19 in New Delhi, India.

The summit is expected to bring together policymakers, researchers, practitioners and indigenous leaders from more than 100 countries to mobilise support for the global traditional medicine strategy 2025–2034, adopted at the world health assembly in May.

Shyama Kuruvilla, acting director of the Global Traditional Medicine Centre, said the moment is pivotal because “traditional medicine is often the closest or only care available for many people.”

Kuruvilla added that “demand continues to rise due to chronic diseases, mental health needs and the push for personalised, holistic care”.

“This is really a pivotal moment to unite the wisdom and systems of millennia for healing with the power of modern science and technology to advance health for all,” she said.

She added that WHO’s role is to help countries ensure traditional medicine is “safe, evidence-informed, and equitably integrated” into health systems.

Kuruvilla highlighted that despite worldwide use, traditional medicine receives less than one percent of global health research funding, a gap she said the summit will address as countries explore stronger investment and evidence generation.

The WHO will also unveil several major initiatives, including a global traditional medicine library containing more than 1.6 million scientific records; a global research priority roadmap, and a traditional medicine data network based on the organisation’s international classification of diseases.

Sylvie Briand, WHO chief scientist, said scientific advances are helping overcome long-standing challenges in evaluating traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM), given its diversity and highly personalised methods.

“Artificial intelligence, for instance, can screen millions of compounds, helping us understand the complex structure of herbal products and extract relevant constituents to maximise benefit and minimise adverse effects,” she said.

Briand said WHO has now developed a global research agenda to guide priority-setting and ethical standards, emphasising that investment must increase if the world is to tackle chronic disease burdens and inequities in access to care.

“Together, let us embrace innovation while respecting tradition, ensuring that every approach we use is safe, effective, and accessible for all,” she added.