The second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, hosted in collaboration with the Government of India, concluded today in New Delhi. This event marked a significant step for global healthcare, attracting over 16,000 online participants and bringing together 800 representatives from more than 100 countries, including ministers from over 20 of them. With a lineup of 160 speakers, the summit provided a platform for the global traditional medicine community to explore how traditional medical practices can contribute to enhancing health systems with safe, affordable, and research-backed care.

There was a strong sense of collaboration in Delhi as ministers, researchers, Indigenous representatives, and health practitioners united to take forward the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. The summit was focused not only on discussion but also on tangible progress. One of the major achievements was the introduction of the Traditional Medicine Global Library—an innovative digital platform that brings together 1.6 million resources on traditional medicine, ranging from scientific articles to Indigenous knowledge. Enhanced with tools like Evidence Gap Maps and a specialized AI assistant called TMGL GPT, this platform aims to improve global research and access to credible, comprehensive information.

At the heart of the summit was innovation, highlighted by the launch of the Health & Heritage Innovations (H2I) initiative. This program supports creative solutions that merge traditional practices with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, genomics, and digital health. Selected from over 1000 proposals, 21 finalists were revealed and will take part in a one-year accelerator program designed to develop their ideas further with guidance from scientific mentors, regulatory experts, and connections to policy and investment networks.

In addition, WHO introduced the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM), a new expert panel to support the implementation of the Global Strategy. Composed of 19 independent members, this group will help determine research priorities, set quality standards, and guide the inclusion of traditional medicine in mainstream healthcare. During their first session at the summit, they outlined a focused agenda: boosting evidence collection, preserving knowledge, advancing digital solutions, and strengthening skills and training.

Support for traditional medicine received further momentum through the Delhi Declaration, a unified commitment endorsed by 26 member states. This declaration outlines a path to incorporate traditional medicine into primary health systems, enhance safety standards and regulatory frameworks, invest in scientific studies, and build interconnected data systems to monitor progress. The emphasis is now on achieving results, ensuring traditional medicine becomes an integral part of delivering equitable and comprehensive health coverage.

“With the Delhi Commitment, nations now share a clear vision—not just of why traditional medicine is important, but also the steps needed to act,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “Traditional medicine has a role in tackling today’s major health issues, from chronic diseases and unequal healthcare access to the impacts of climate change. It enables care that is personal, rooted in cultural understanding, and holistic in approach.”

As the world looks ahead, WHO plans to collaborate closely with its member states to bring these goals to life—expanding access to trusted information, driving innovative ideas, and embedding traditional practices within broader health systems. The Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 provides a comprehensive roadmap to build a future where healthcare is inclusive, culturally resonant, and robust.