This is according to Shyama Kuruvilla, director of WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Center, established in 2022 to harness the potential of these systems for health care and well-being.
“With half of the world’s population lacking access to essential health services, traditional medicine is often the closest or only treatment available to many people,” Ms. Kuruvilla a virtual media briefing on Wednesday, ahead of this month’s WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
“For many others, it’s a preferred choice because it’s personal and holistic. It’s bioculturally attuned, and it supports overall well-being rather than just treating specific disease symptoms,” she continued.
What is traditional medicine?
According to the WHO, traditional medicine includes practices and knowledge from various historical and cultural contexts that predate biomedicine and mainstream medical practice.
Traditional medicine emphasizes nature-based remedies and holistic, personal approaches to restoring balance in mind, body and environment.
Mrs. Kuruvilla said global demand for traditional medicine is increasing due to chronic diseases, mental health needs, stress management and the search for meaningful care.
Despite widespread use and demand, less than one percent of global health research funding currently supports it, she added.
What will happen at the summit?
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will take place from 17 to 19 December and will bring together policy makers, practitioners, scientists and indigenous leaders from around the world.
It will be held in New Delhi, India, and online.
Participants will discuss how to implement the WHO Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine through 2034, which aims to promote evidence-based traditional, complementary and integrative medicine and provides guidance on regulation and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
“The global summit aims to promote the conditions and collaborations required for traditional medicine to contribute on a large scale to the flourishing of all people and our planet,” concluded Ms. Kuruvilla.
At the same time, WHO is launching a Global Library of Traditional Medicine – the first of its kind digital platform with over 1.6 million scientific records on the subject, a Traditional Medicine Data Network and a Framework on Indigenous Knowledge, Biodiversity and Health, among other initiatives.
