WHO, Ayush ministry collaborate to promote traditional medicine

India's ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have entered into a `Traditional and Complementary Medicine 'Project Collaboration Agreement' aimed at mainstreaming India’s traditional and complementary medical care system.

The agreement, signed in Geneva late on Friday, aims to integrate aspects like standardisation, quality, and safety of traditional and complementary medical systems into the national health system and to disseminate them globally.

In the first phase, the contract will see the development of traditional and complementary medical care system on an international level, secretary in the Ayush ministry, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, said.

This agreement will mainstream traditional and complementary medicine into India's national health system while also serving the global health objectives, Bruce Aylward, ADG, Universal Health Coverage and Life Course Division, WHO, stated.

WHO and the ministry of Ayush will jointly complete the work of formulation of the Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025-34. They will also shoulder the responsibility of preserving the rich heritage of traditional and complementary medicine while also making it modern, authentic, and truly global.

WHO will prepare Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025-34 with the support of the Ayush ministry.

“Global efforts by the ministry to strengthen the national health system will definitely give India a global identity in the field of healthcare services and promote medical tourism in India,” Ayush minister Sarbananda Sononwal said.

The agreement will also help strengthen the system of training and practice in the field of complementary medicine systems like 'Siddha', while formulating guidelines for the listing of traditional and complementary medicines and addressing safety related issues.

The Ayush ministry will develop an International Herbal Pharmacopoeia of herbs found in South-East Asia in collaboration with WHO. This will complement efforts to conserve and manage biodiversity and medicinal plants.