WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine & Basics of Ayush Knowledge
Context:
India will host the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from December 17 to 19, 2025
This summit follows the inaugural event held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2023
About the Summit:
It is co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush.
The theme is Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.
The Summit will also see the launch of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL), world’s most comprehensive digital repository on traditional, complementary and integrative medicine with over 1.5 million records.
Key Objectives:
To position Traditional Medicine within the global health agenda, guided by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034
To discuss the safe, effective, and ethical integration of Traditional Medicine into national health systems
To emphasize biodiversity stewardship, Indigenous rights, and diverse knowledge systems
Basics of Ayush Knowledge:
Ayush is an acronym for the medical systems practiced in India.
These are Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Sowa-Rig-pa, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
These systems are based on definite medical philosophies and represent a way of healthy living with established concepts on prevention of diseases and promotion of health
The basic approach of all these systems towards health, disease, and treatment is holistic.
Schemes and Government Initiatives:
National AYUSH Mission (NAM)
launched in 2014, the mission is the Ministry’s flagship Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at strengthening AYUSH service delivery.
NAM places special emphasis on AYUSH units at Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals, thereby ensuring wider access to traditional medicine.
Ayurgyan
a Central Sector Scheme designed to strengthen research, innovation and capacity building in AYUSH systems.
Ayurswasthya Yojana
Ayurswasthya is a public-health oriented scheme.
It aims at promoting community-level wellness interventions and strengthening centres of excellence in AYUSH.