G20 leaders and WHO endorse the potential of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine

Oct 02, 2023

ECHAMP welcomes recent recognition by the G20 leaders of the potential role of evidence-based Traditional and Complementary Medicine in health and the strong commitment and support by World Health Organization (WHO) to further implement evidence-based traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) interventions and approaches in support of health goals.

The first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, “Towards health and well-being for all”, held in Gujarat, India, on 17-18 August 2023, reaffirmed previous global commitments related to indigenous knowledges, biodiversity and TCIM and confirmed its support to scale up efforts to further implement evidence-based TCIM interventions and approaches. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including health and TCIM practitioners, civil society representatives and Indigenous Peoples, health policy and decision-makers and government officials from the G20 and other countries. The Gujarat Declaration, which emerged as a summary document from these discussions, sets forth ambitious goals for enhancing integration efforts, thereby harnessing the contributions of TCIM and Indigenous knowledge for health and well-being, including the application of science, technology, innovation and knowledge exchange.

On 9-10 September, in New Delhi, the G20 leaders recognised the potential role of evidence-based Traditional and Complementary Medicine in health in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, taking note of international efforts in this direction, including WHO’s global and collaborating centres, and clinical trial registries.

These Declarations, released under India’s G20 presidency, signal a significant step towards the integration of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) into global healthcare systems and the promotion of a person-centred approach to health.

ECHAMP commends WHO’s and G20 leaders’ recognition of the widespread use of TCIH and its potential to contribute to broader healthcare goals. We particularly support WHO’s commitment to apply rigorous scientific methods to ensure effectiveness and safety in the use of TCIM systems, and in evolving scientific methods to better understand, assess and apply more holistic, context-specific, complex and personalised approaches for health and well-being. We believe there is a real need to invest in better understanding of these medical systems.

ECHAMP also recognises the important work of the TCIH Coalition in promoting traditional, complementary, and integrative healthcare as an integral part of healthcare systems. Visit their website to sign up for updates on developments in this area.

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