WHO & traditional medicine

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Last Updated20/04/2022

Indian PM along with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, will perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the first-of-its-kind WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
GCTM would go a long way in enhancing wellness in society.

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WHO describes traditional medicine as total sum of the “knowledge, skills and practices indigenous and different cultures have used over time to maintain health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness”.
Its reach encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures as well as modern medicines,” the WHO says.
Traditional medicine in India is often defined as including practices and therapies — such as yoga, Ayurveda, and Siddha that have been part of Indian tradition historically, as well as others such as homoeopathy that became part of Indian tradition over the years.
- Ayurveda and yoga are practised widely across the country
- Siddha system is followed predominantly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
- Sowa-Rigpa system is practised mainly in Leh-Ladakh and Himalayan regions such as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Lahaul & Spiti.

India has committed an estimated $250 million to support the GCTM’s establishment, infrastructure and operations.
Aim: To focus on evidence-based research, innovation, and data analysis to optimise the contribution of traditional medicine to global health.
Its main focus will be to develop norms, standards and guidelines in technical areas relating to traditional medicine.
Ministry of AYUSH: GCTM will seek to set policies and standards on traditional medicine products and help countries create a comprehensive, safe, and high-quality health system.
It will support efforts to implement the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014-23), which aims to support nations in developing policies & action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine in pursuing the goal of universal health coverage.
According to WHO estimates, 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine

An interim office of GCTM is planned to be set up at the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Jamnagar. ITRA, supported by the Gujarat government and financed by the central government, is the first university to offer education and training in the field of Ayurveda across the world, according to the Ministry of AYUSH.
The university is a WHO collaborating centre for traditional medicines.
The WHO and the central government are aiming at using technology and innovation, such as AI, to map traditional medicine trends, innovations and patents, linking to WHO’s Innovation Hub.

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WHO: 170 of its 194 WHO Member States use traditional medicine, and these member states have asked for its support in creating a body of “reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products”.
Jamnagar centre will serve as the hub, and focus on building a “solid evidence base” for policies and “help countries integrate it as appropriate into their health systems”.

National health systems and strategies do not yet fully integrate traditional medicine workers, accredited courses and health facilities.
There is a need to conserve biodiversity and sustainability
- About 40% of approved pharmaceutical products today derive from natural substances.
- Eg: discovery of aspirin drew on traditional medicine formulations using the bark of willow tree, the contraceptive pill was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments have been based on the rosy periwinkle,” the WHO says.
Modernisation of the ways traditional medicine is being studied.
- Artificial intelligence is now used to map evidence and trends in traditional medicine.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to study brain activity and the relaxation response that is part of some traditional medicine therapies such as meditation and yoga, which are increasingly drawn on for mental health and well-being in stressful times,” it says.
- Traditional medicine is also being extensively updated by mobile phone apps, online classes, and other technologies.
- The GCTM will serve as a hub for other countries, and build standards on traditional medicine practices and products.

2016: Ministry of AYUSH signed a project collaboration agreement (PCA) with WHO in the area of traditional medicine.
Aim: to create benchmarks for training in yoga, Ayurveda, Unani and Panchakarma, for traditional medicine practitioners.
Promoting the quality and safety of traditional medicine and consumer protection by supporting WHO in the development and implementation of the WHO Traditional and Complementary Medicine Strategy.
At least 32 MoUs for undertaking collaborative research and development of traditional medicine have been signed with institutes, universities and organisations from the US, Germany, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Brazil, Australia, Austria, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Japan, Indonesia, Reunion Island, Korea and Hungary.

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