Signing of Donor Agreement between Ministry of Ayush, Government of India and WHO
The Donor agreement recognizes the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) as a key knowledge hub for evidence-based Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) aiming to advance the health and well-being of people and the planet.
- India will donate US$ 85 million over a period of 10 years (2022-2032) to support the operations of the WHO GTMC in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
About Traditional Medicine
- Traditional Medicine is the knowledge and practices based on the beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of illness.
- Some traditional medicines are herbal medicine, yoga, Ayurveda, acupuncture
- More than 80% of the world’s population in over 170 of WHO’s 194 Member States currently use some form of traditional medicine.
- The 2018 Declaration of Astana on primary health care acknowledges the need to include traditional medicine knowledge and technologies in the delivery of primary health care.
- Concerns
- Traditional medicine products can have negative health effects, especially when used in combination with other medications or in high doses.
- Most of the Traditional Medicine products are unregulated.
