India will host the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from 17–19 December 2025, reinforcing its leadership in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). The summit’s theme, “Restoring Balance for People and Planet: The Science and Practice of Well-Being,” places traditional medicine at the heart of global discussions on sustainable, people-centred healthcare.
Global Platform for Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine
Organised by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Summit will convene policymakers, scientists, regulators, practitioners and industry leaders from over 100 countries. Building on the momentum of the first summit held in Gujarat in 2023, the New Delhi edition will focus on strengthening scientific evidence, improving regulatory standards and integrating TCIM into national health systems, especially primary healthcare.
Launch of the Traditional Medicine Global Library
A major highlight of the Summit will be the launch of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL). With over 1.5 million records, TMGL will become the world’s most comprehensive digital repository on traditional medicine, offering global access to research evidence, policies and regulatory frameworks. Its launch in India underscores the country’s central role in advancing evidence-based traditional medicine worldwide.
India’s Robust AYUSH Ecosystem
India brings unmatched institutional strength to the Summit. The country has 3,844 AYUSH hospitals, 36,848 dispensaries, over 7.5 lakh registered practitioners, and a strong education network comprising 886 undergraduate and 251 postgraduate colleges. Under the Ministry of AYUSH, systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy are fully integrated into the public-health framework.
Policy Integration and Public Health Impact
Through the National AYUSH Mission, AYUSH services are co-located in Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals, enabling integrative care alongside allopathy. Complementary schemes such as Ayurgyan, Ayurswasthya Yojana and AOGUSY further strengthen research, quality assurance, workforce capacity and drug regulation.
Aligning with WHO Strategy 2025–2034
As reported by pib.gov.in, the Summit aligns closely with the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which emphasises evidence generation, regulatory robustness, health-system integration and biodiversity conservation. With institutions like the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, India stands poised to shape the future of global traditional medicine—where ancient knowledge and modern science converge to advance equitable, sustainable health for all.