Delhi: December 18:
The Second WHO Global Summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from December 17 to 19. Organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, the summit focuses on “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being.” It convenes global policymakers, scientists, practitioners, Indigenous knowledge holders, and civil society leaders to advance balanced, inclusive, and sustainable health systems.
A key session, ‘Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts,’ examined clinical evidence supporting Ashwagandha’s therapeutic benefits. International experts, regulators, and researchers discussed evolving scientific, regulatory, and safety considerations for Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).
The session highlighted Ashwagandha’s increasing global recognition for its adaptogenic, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory properties, and emphasized the importance of rigorous research, standardization, safety assessments, and ongoing monitoring.
Experts and panellists called for harmonising global standards, strengthening evidence-based validation, and fostering international collaboration. Their objective is to integrate Ashwagandha into modern healthcare responsibly while safeguarding traditional knowledge.
The Summit launched plenary discussions on key topics, including restoring balance in global health systems, knowledge management, biodiversity protection, and equity promotion.
Plenary 1, “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being,” featured leaders from WHO, the Ministry of Ayush, China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, South African Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and representatives from Canada and New Zealand.
The session addressed gaps in access to knowledge, governance, and planetary health, and underscored the need to integrate diverse knowledge systems, strengthen scientific standards, and protect biodiversity to advance global health equity.
Plenary 1A explored the role of traditional medical knowledge within global health. The session introduced the Traditional Medicine Global Library and examined how cultures have valued or overlooked different knowledge systems over time.
Plenary 1B addressed equity in Traditional Medicine knowledge, highlighting historical issues such as extraction, commercialisation, and insufficient recognition of Indigenous wisdom
Plenary 1C examined ecological balance and planetary health, focusing on Traditional Medicine’s role in conserving biodiversity and supporting climate-friendly health strategies. Experts from Australia, Kenya, India, Guatemala, Indonesia, Egypt, and Uganda emphasized the strong connections between cultural knowledge, healthy ecosystems, and public health.
Plenary 1D focused on governance and resources for Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). Speakers from Mali, Tanzania, Germany, Iraq, Malaysia, and Cuba discussed policy improvements, quality standards, and sustainable practices to enhance TCIM’s contribution to global health systems.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav inaugurated the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine at Bharat Mandapam.
In his opening speech, Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav said, “India’s collaboration with the World Health Organization reflects a shared commitment to bring traditional medicine into the mainstream of global healthcare through science, standards, and evidence. Since the partnership began in 2016, significant milestones have been achieved, including the launch of ICD-11 Module 2 in 2024, integrating Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani morbidity codes into the international health classification.
Jadhav also said, “India continues to expand international cooperation in the field of traditional medicine through education, research, and capacity building. The country offers 104 scholarships annually to foreign nationals, has signed 26 country-level MoUs, collaborates with over 50 institutions worldwide, and has established Ayush Chairs in 15 universities and Ayush Information Cells in 43 countries.
Collaborative research initiatives, including Ashwagandha trials in the United Kingdom, Guduchi studies in Germany, and Ayurveda-based diabetes research in Latvia, are generating a growing body of evidence.
