Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine to host a high-level side event during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) on 23 May 2025
The Sixth Meeting of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM) was held at the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) in Geneva. The meeting brought together ambassadors’ representatives from various countries committed to strengthening the role of traditional medicine in global healthcare systems.
Building on the Gujarat Declaration and the success of past meetings, this gathering supports key global initiatives—particularly the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and the upcoming Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, to be held in India from 2–4 December 2025.
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha delivered a keynote address virtually that underscored India’s leadership and commitment in promoting evidence-based traditional medicine worldwide.
In his remarks, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush emphasised the growing relevance of traditional medicine in achieving universal health coverage and advancing the goals of One Health and Sustainable Development.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment through Ministry of Ayush with initiatives like the National AYUSH Mission, the integrative model of Ayush Arogya Mandirs, insurance coverage for traditional medicine, and collaborative research with premier institutions like DBT, DST, ICMR, and CSIR.
The address also highlighted India’s focus on emerging domains such as AI, genomics, and bioinformatics in traditional medicine—reflected in the global technical meeting on AI applications in conventional medicine underscoring the country’s role in safeguarding traditional knowledge, enhancing capacity, and promoting equitable global health.
“The Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM) was created by India in May 2023. This informal platform allows WHO member states to discuss and support the integration of traditional medicine into health systems,” he said, calling for greater collaboration, knowledge exchange, and research partnerships.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, which hosted the meeting, reaffirmed its commitment to furthering international cooperation on traditional and integrative healthcare solutions, in alignment with WHO guidelines and national policies.
With platforms like GFTM and the leadership of the Ministry of Ayush, India is not only preserving its traditional wellness heritage but also reshaping the future of global health—one that is inclusive, preventive, and deeply rooted in the wisdom of nature.
It is to be noted that the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine will host a high-level side event during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) on May 23, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the UN Palais des Nations, Geneva. Titled “Traditional Medicine: From Traditional Heritage to Frontier Science, for Health for All”, the event will highlight the growing global momentum to integrate Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) within universal health systems and sustainable development frameworks.
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