The World Health Organisation has launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a comprehensive digital platform that consolidates over 1.6 million resources on traditional medicine. The library, unveiled at the second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi, aims to transform access to trusted information and accelerate research worldwide.
The platform features advanced tools, including Evidence Gap Maps and an AI-powered tool, to facilitate research and innovation. The summit, jointly organised with the Government of India, also saw the launch of Health & Heritage Innovations, an initiative to nurture breakthrough ideas that combine traditional practices with cutting-edge technologies.
Twenty-one finalists, selected from over 1,000 submissions, will participate in a year-long acceleration programme to refine their prototypes and connect with policymakers and investors. The WHO also announced the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, comprising 19 independent experts, to guide the Global Strategy.
The Delhi Declaration, signed by 26 Member States, marks a significant shift towards integrating traditional medicine into primary healthcare, strengthening regulation and safety standards, and investing in research. The declaration aims to ensure that traditional medicine is not a parallel system but a driver of universal health coverage.
According to WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Delhi Commitment signifies a new era for traditional medicine, focusing on action rather than recognition. Traditional medicine can help address modern health threats, including non-communicable diseases, inequitable access to health services, and climate change.
The WHO will work with Member States to turn these commitments into reality, scaling access to trusted knowledge, accelerating innovation, and embedding traditional medicine into health systems worldwide. The Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 charts a course towards a future where care is more inclusive, culturally grounded, and resilient.
The summit, which drew over 16,000 online registrations and brought together 800 delegates from over 100 countries, marked a major milestone for global health. The event highlighted the potential of traditional medicine to strengthen health systems with safer, evidence-based, and affordable care. With the launch of the Traditional Medicine Global Library and the Delhi Declaration, the WHO has taken significant steps towards promoting the integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems.