Traditional medicine summit brings countries together

Delegates met in Gandhinagar to discuss evidence, access and the future of traditional medicine.

The Indian government and WHO convened practitioners, researchers and policymakers.

WHO’s director-general referred to his experience of traditional practitioners in Ethiopia.

The meeting asked how practices could be studied and integrated responsibly into health systems.

The first WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit concluded in Gandhinagar after its two-day meeting on 17–18 August 2023.

Participants considered research and governance of traditional care; holding a summit did not validate every practice discussed.

The WHO summit connected traditional medicine, research and public health at an international meeting hosted in India.

A WHO regional message recognized traditional medicine’s place in African health care.

The observance addressed how local knowledge and community practice relate to health systems.

WHO encouraged research and appropriate regulation of traditional medicine.