The Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine gathered in Geneva on 29 November to agree opportunities for joint action in 2025, harnessing commitment to collaboration and coordination among WHO Member States.
Ambassadors and health delegates of nearly 30 countries gathered for a meeting hosted by the Permanent Mission of India to discuss major opportunities in 2025 for accelerated support for traditional medicine as a driver of increased health equity.
HE Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India, meets with members of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine. Photo: Alexander Petrenko
These opportunities include the launch of the draft Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine, 2025–2023 during the World Health Assembly in May 2025, as well as the 2nd WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, to be held in New Delhi, India, in December 2025, coordinated by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre.
"Traditional medicine plays a pivotal role in holistic well-being and our collective efforts towards universal health coverage in an equitable, accessible, affordable and sustainable manner," said H.E. Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India, in opening the meeting. This was the fifth gathering of the Group of Friends since it was created by India in May 2023 as an informal platform for discussion among Member States.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the Group in a recorded video for its commitment to strengthening evidence and "bringing ancient traditions and modern innovations together for Health for All." He outlined WHO's active efforts on this issue, including identifying research priorities, standardizing data collection, promoting biodiversity management, developing a Traditional Medicine Global Library, and contributing to intellectual property framework to ensure equitable access and benefits.
Speaking online from New Delhi, H.E. Rajesh Kotecha, Vice-Minister and Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush in India, noted that "India's proactive collaboration with WHO on Traditional Medicine underscores its acknowledgement of role of Traditional Medicine in achieving holistic health."
The meeting included the in-person participation of WHO technical staff and senior WHO leaders, including a keynote address from Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage-Life Course Dr Bruce Aylward, and the attendance of WHO Chef de Cabinet Dr Razia Pendse. Dr Liu Qin of WHO's Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine unit presented on the goals and objectives of the draft Global strategy. Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i., WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, provided framing comments on the theme of the next Global Summit: "Restoring balance: the science and practice of health and well-being".
Dr Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre in Geneva, underlined the burgeoning economic importance of traditional medicine, with the global market currently growing at 7–8% per year, and expected to generate US$ 289 billion by 2031.
Country speakers took the floor from all regions to share their experiences and priorities for traditional medicine. All speakers, including from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo and others, expressed their appreciation for the new Global Strategy and WHO's efforts to expand the evidence base for traditional medicine. This is important for combatting misconceptions, increasing political support and expanding policy and investment for the safe and effective use of traditional medicine, including in collaboration with the private sector.
Several participants also emphasized the need to elevate traditional knowledge in fostering a shared sense of harmony and well-being for people and planet. The voices and rights of Indigenous Peoples in this process, and the protection of biodiversity, are paramount to this.
Going forward, Member States expressed their intent to participate in the December 2025 WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, and proposed the development of a roadmap of pre-Summit meetings during 2025, uniting different stakeholder groups to promote dialogue and collaboration, including a side event on traditional medicine hosted by the Group of Friends during the World Health Assembly in May.
