New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) On the closing day of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, the global health body's director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Friday said that healthcare must be integrated and inclusive, while stressing that science and tradition are complementary to each other.
The summit, jointly organised with the Government of India, opened on Wednesday and brought together ministers, scientists, indigenous leaders and practitioners from more than 100 countries.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for championing traditional medicine at the highest global level.
He recalled the prime minister's call for global collaboration during India's G20 Presidency and noted that it generated an unprecedented international response.
Dr Tedros stated that the prime minister's vision of 'One Earth, One Health' resonates deeply with the core principles of traditional medicine, emphasising balance, prevention and harmony with nature.
Dr Tedros lauded India for translating vision into action, describing the country as a global leader in moving traditional medicine from heritage to evidence-informed practice.
Addressing the summit, the WHO director general said, "Traditional medicine can help address many of the threats to the health of our modern world, the growing burden on economic capabilities, and inequitable access to healthcare services."
Commending India, he said the country has shown that tradition and innovation can advance together. "India has shown the world that traditional wisdom and modern science are not inconsistent, but complementary to each other."
"Traditional medicine can help address many of the threats to the health of our modern world, the growing burden of economic capabilities, and inequitable access to services and healthcare," Tedros said, adding, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership has helped bring this vision to the world."
He also welcomed the adoption of the Delhi Declaration as a major step forward. He stated that India has clearly demonstrated that traditional medicine is not a relic of the past, nor an alternative confined to the margins, but a living and evolving science that is increasingly central to modern healthcare systems.
About the outcome of the summit, he said, "We have agreed to ensure safety, quality and public trust through common and risk-based regulation. We have also agreed to safeguard biodiversity and traditional knowledge while respecting cultural heritage, intellectual property and equitable sharing."
The WHO D-G added, "We have agreed to harness digital technologies and innovation responsibly to improve access to research and data generation, and we have agreed to integrate safe and effective traditional medicine into health systems, especially private healthcare."
"As we conclude this summit, let us live united by shared conviction that the future of health must be integrated, inclusive and informed. By restoring balance between people, communities and planet, we can build healthier societies for generations to come," Tedros added.
He highlighted landmark initiatives such as the establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, noting that these efforts have helped integrate traditional medicine into health systems, research and policy, contributing to universal health coverage and sustainable development worldwide.
Union Minister for Health J P Nadda, appreciated the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister for consistently championing traditional medicine and positioning it as a credible and globally accepted healthcare system.
He emphasised India's commitment to advancing AYUSH through scientific, evidence-based approaches and integrating it with modern medicine to strengthen preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare.
Highlighting structural reforms, Nadda noted that AYUSH has been successfully integrated into premier medical institutions, including AIIMS, through dedicated AYUSH blocks. This convergence, he said, has enabled healthcare systems to work in synergy rather than silos, leading to measurable public health outcome. He expressed confidence that the outcome of the summit would significantly strengthen health systems across the region and beyond.
Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, expressed gratitude to global leaders, WHO representatives, experts, industry stakeholders and Member States for their active participation.