Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri JP Nadda, in the presence of Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.

• The summit was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 17 December 2025.
• It was jointly organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.

Theme of the Summit

• The summit was centred on the theme:
  “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being.”
• Focused on integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare systems through scientific validation and policy support.

Key Highlights

• A major attraction was a parallel session titled:
  ‘Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts’.
• The session showcased clinical evidence on the therapeutic benefits of Ashwagandha, strengthening its global scientific credibility.

Inauguration of WHO SEARO Complex

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, inaugurated the new WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) complex in New Delhi.
• The inauguration took place on the sidelines of the summit.

Adoption of Delhi Declaration

• The summit concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.
• The declaration:
  • Reaffirmed traditional medicine as a shared biocultural heritage.
  • Committed WHO Member States to:
    • Strengthening scientific evidence
    • Enhancing regulation and quality standards
    • Promoting integration into health systems
    • Fostering cross-sector collaboration
• Aligns with the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.

Launch of Traditional Medicine Global Library

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library.
• The platform aims to:
  • Preserve validated traditional medicine knowledge.
  • Provide equitable global access to:
    • Scientific data
    • Policy documents
    • Evidence-based traditional medicine resources.