NEW DELHI, 19 December 2025: Traditional medicine, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says, encompasses diverse health practices, knowledge, and beliefs rooted in cultural and historical contexts, often predating modern biomedicine. These systems emphasize holistic approaches using natural remedies like herbs, minerals, and spiritual therapies to maintain balance in body, mind, and environment.
Traditional medicine differs from conventional (Western or allopathic) medicine primarily in its holistic, experience-based roots versus the latter’s scientific, evidence-driven methods. Traditional approaches focus on restoring balance across body, mind, and environment, while conventional medicine targets specific diseases with targeted interventions.
Often there is talk of whether in different medical situations one should take recourse to ‘modern medicine’ or ‘traditional medicine’ or both or some sort of integrated system. Traditional medicine includes codified systems such as Ayurveda from India, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Unani, as well as non-codified folk practices passed orally through generations. The WHO defines it as experience-based practices distinct from biomedicine (use of scientific observation and experimentation to identify and explain diseases and develop effective treatments), focusing on prevention, personalized care, and restoring harmony.
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine aims to advance a global movement to restore balance for people and the planet, grounded in the science and practice of Traditional Medicine. Guided by the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, the Summit will highlight the latest evidence and innovations, and address critical issues including health systems regulation and integration; respectful information exchange with Indigenous Peoples and across knowledge paradigms; biodiversity preservation and intellectual property rights; and the transformative potential of frontier technologies. New products, collaborations and initiatives will be presented, alongside concrete pledges and commitments.
WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 is the current framework guiding the World Health Organization’s efforts to integrate traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) into global health systems. It succeeds the previous WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023, which focused on harnessing TCIM for health, wellness, and people-centered care while promoting safe and effective use through regulation.Background and Development
- In 2023, the World Health Assembly (WHA76) requested the extension of the 2014–2023 strategy to 2025 and the development of a new one for 2025–2034.
- The new strategy was developed through extensive global and regional consultations with Member States, experts, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders.
- It was adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025.
- The strategy aligns with broader goals like universal health coverage (UHC), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primary health care, and planetary health.
- Implementation is supported by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
VisionA world where everyone has universal access to safe, effective, evidence-based, and people-centred TCIM, contributing to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for people and the planet.Guiding Principles. The strategy is underpinned by nine core principles:
- Evidence base
- Holism and health promotion
- Sustainability and biodiversity
- Right to health and autonomy
- Indigenous Peoples’ rights, culture, and health
- People-centred care and community engagement
- Integrated health services
- Health equity
- Respect for cultural diversity and traditional knowledge
Four Strategic Objectives
- Strengthen the evidence base for TCIM: Enhance research, innovation (including AI and digital tools), data generation, and systematic reviews to build robust scientific validation.
- Ensure safety, quality, and regulation: Develop standards, regulatory frameworks, and benchmarks for products, practices, and practitioners to promote safe and effective use.
- Integrate safe and effective TCIM into health systems: Support countries in incorporating evidence-based TCIM into national policies, primary health care, and service delivery for better outcomes, equity, and resilience.
- Optimize cross-sectoral value and empower communities: Foster collaborations across sectors (e.g., One Health, biodiversity conservation), protect traditional knowledge, promote ethical benefit-sharing, and engage Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Key Focus Areas and Initiatives
- Addressing global demand: Around 80–88% of the world’s population uses TCIM, with high usage reported in many countries.
- Tools and resources: Launch of the Traditional Medicine Global Library (over 1.6 million records), TCIM dashboards for country profiles, and the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on TCIM (established December 2025).
- Recent advancements: The strategy was central to the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine (17-19 December 2025, New Delhi), which emphasized implementation through regulation, integration, innovation, and community engagement.
The full official document is available on the WHO website: Global traditional medicine strategy 2025-2034.This strategy represents a shift toward a more inclusive, evidence-driven, and sustainable approach to TCIM, recognizing its potential to address modern health challenges while respecting cultural and ecological diversity.
