The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, co-organized with the Government of India, concluded in New Delhi as a significant moment for global health cooperation, attracting more than 16,000 online registrations and convening 800 delegates from over 100 countries, including ministers from more than 20 nations. With contributions from 160 speakers, the Summit highlighted how traditional medicine can strengthen health systems by offering safe, evidence-based, and affordable care while responding to diverse population needs.
Participants from government, science, Indigenous communities, and clinical practice focused on advancing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, emphasizing practical action alongside dialogue. A major outcome was the launch of the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a comprehensive digital platform bringing together 1.6 million resources, including scientific research and Indigenous knowledge. The platform’s tools, such as Evidence Gap Maps and an AI-powered interface, are expected to improve access to reliable information and support global research and policymaking.
Innovation was another central theme, marked by the introduction of Health & Heritage Innovations, an initiative designed to support solutions that combine traditional practices with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, genomics, and digital health. From more than 1,000 applications, 21 finalists were selected to participate in a year-long acceleration programme offering technical guidance, regulatory support, and opportunities to engage with policymakers and investors.
WHO also announced the creation of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, a 19-member expert body tasked with guiding implementation of the Global Strategy. During its first meeting at the Summit, the group identified key priorities including strengthening the evidence base, safeguarding traditional knowledge, advancing digital innovation, and building national and regional capacity.
Political commitment was reinforced through the Delhi Declaration, endorsed by 26 Member States, which outlines shared priorities such as integrating traditional medicine into primary health care, enhancing regulatory and safety frameworks, expanding research investment, and developing interoperable data systems to monitor outcomes. These commitments signal a shift toward embedding traditional medicine within mainstream health systems to support universal health coverage.
WHO leadership подчеркed that the agreed commitments move beyond recognition to concrete action, positioning traditional medicine as a tool to address noncommunicable diseases, health inequities, and the impacts of climate change, while promoting person-centred and culturally grounded care. In the coming years, WHO will work with countries to implement these commitments, scale access to trusted knowledge, foster innovation, and integrate traditional medicine into resilient and inclusive health systems worldwide.
