This is according to Shyama Kuruvilla, Director of WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Centre, which was launched in 2022 to strengthen the contribution of traditional practices to global health.
Speaking during a virtual media briefing ahead of this month’s WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, Kuruvilla said traditional medicine remains a vital part of healthcare for millions of people worldwide.
“With half the world’s population lacking access to essential health services, traditional medicine is often the closest or only care available for many people,” she said. “For many others, it is a preferred choice because it is personalised and holistic. It is bioculturally aligned and supports overall well-being rather than only treating specific disease symptoms.”
WHO defines traditional medicine as knowledge, skills and practices rooted in diverse cultural and historical contexts that long pre-date modern biomedical systems. These approaches often use nature-based remedies and focus on restoring balance between the mind, body and environment.
Kuruvilla noted that growing demand is being driven by increasing rates of chronic diseases, rising mental health needs, stress, and the desire for care that aligns with cultural identity. She also warned that despite high usage, less than 1% of global health research funding is dedicated to traditional medicine.
The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will take place from December, 17 to December, 19 in New Delhi and online. The event will bring together policy makers, scientists, practitioners and Indigenous leaders to discuss how to implement the WHO global strategy on traditional medicine through 2034.
The strategy aims to support the development of evidence-based traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, with guidance on regulation and collaboration across sectors.
“The Global Summit aims to foster the conditions and collaborations required for traditional medicine to contribute at scale to the flourishing of all people and our planet,” Kuruvilla said.
At the summit, WHO will also unveil several new initiatives, including a global traditional medicine library. The digital platform contains more than 1.6 million scientific records, along with a traditional medicine data network and a Framework on Indigenous Knowledge, Biodiversity and Health.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
