Table of Contents
Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing the Traditional Medicine Global Summit in August 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. Co-hosted by the Government of India, the Summit aims to explore the role of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine in addressing global health challenges and promoting sustainable development. The Summit will bring together high-level participants from various sectors, including WHO officials, G20 health ministers, scientists, practitioners, health workers, and civil society organizations.
Exploring Traditional Medicine for Global Health
The Summit will focus on scaling up scientific advances and harnessing evidence-based knowledge in traditional medicine to improve global health and well-being. Technical discussions will cover research, evidence, and learning; policy, data, and regulation; innovation and digital health; and biodiversity, equity, and indigenous knowledge. The goal is to mainstream traditional medicine in healthcare systems based on the latest scientific evidence, promoting people-centered and holistic approaches to health.
Traditional Medicine and Universal Health Coverage
Heads of State and government at the 2019 UN high-level meeting on universal health coverage recognized the importance of evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine services, particularly in primary healthcare. Traditional medicine is well-established in many parts of the world and plays a significant role in the culture, health, and well-being of communities. In some countries, it represents a significant part of the health sector’s economy and is the only available source of healthcare for millions of people.
Advancing Science in Traditional Medicine
Traditional medicine has contributed to important medical discoveries and holds great promise for the future. Research methods such as ethnopharmacology and reverse pharmacology can help identify new, safe, and effective drugs. Additionally, the application of new technologies like genomics, diagnostic technologies, and artificial intelligence can expand our knowledge of traditional medicine. However, safety, efficacy, and quality control remain important priorities, and scientific methods must be applied to provide rigorous evidence for the use of traditional medicines.
Research and Evaluation of Traditional Medicine
The Summit will explore research and evaluation of traditional medicine, including the development of a global research agenda, priorities, and challenges based on 25 years of research. Findings from systematic reviews, evidence maps, and global research maps on traditional medicine will be presented. The aim is to strengthen the evidence base for appropriate regulation, quality control, and monitoring of traditional medicine practices, practitioners, and products.
WHO Global Survey on Traditional Medicine
At the Summit, WHO will present emerging findings from the third global survey on traditional medicine. The survey includes questions on financing, quality assurance, traditional medicine knowledge, biodiversity, trade, integration, and patient safety. The results will inform the development of WHO’s updated traditional medicine strategy for 2025-2034. Standardization of traditional medicine documentation and coding in health information systems is also essential for effective management and regulation. The Summit will discuss best practices and experiences in this regard, including the implementation of the traditional medicine chapter in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge
Biodiversity and indigenous knowledge are fundamental to traditional medicine and the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. The Summit will focus on sustainable biodiversity management in the face of the climate crisis and share best practices, initiatives, and legislative frameworks for the protection of traditional knowledge and equitable benefit-sharing. The discussions will also highlight indigenous knowledge-based innovations in healthcare and the promotion of intercultural dialogues to support community health.
Conclusion
The Traditional Medicine Global Summit in 2023 will provide a platform to explore the role of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine in addressing global health challenges. It aims to scale up scientific advances, promote evidence-based knowledge, and mainstream traditional medicine in healthcare systems. The Summit will also focus on research, evaluation, policy, regulation, and the protection of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge. By strengthening the evidence base and promoting best practices, the Summit aims to advance holistic approaches to health and well-being in 2023 and beyond.