The World Health Organization (WHO) kicked off its inaugural summit on traditional medicine, aiming to gather evidence and data that will promote the safe and effective use of such treatments. The UN health agency acknowledges that traditional medicines serve as the initial option for millions of people worldwide. Policymakers and academics gathered in India to discuss ways to mobilize political commitment and evidence-based action in support of traditional medicine.
In his opening speech, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the organization is dedicated to building the necessary evidence and data to inform policies, standards, and regulations for the safe, cost-effective, and equitable use of traditional medicine. Tedros emphasized the potential of traditional medicine to bridge healthcare access gaps but stressed that it could only be valuable if used appropriately, effectively, and most importantly, safely based on the latest scientific evidence.
However, WHO faced criticism from online critics who accused the organization of providing scientific validation to pseudoscience. This came after WHO asked its followers about their experiences with a variety of treatments, including homeopathy and naturopathy. WHO later admitted that its message could have been better articulated, acknowledging the concerns raised.
The two-day WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit took place alongside a meeting of G20 health ministers in the city of Gandhinagar, India. Nobel laureate and Chair of the WHO Science Council, Harold Varmus, stressed the importance of understanding the ingredients in traditional medicines and identifying which ones are effective and which ones are not.
This summit, which is set to become a regular event, follows the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India’s Gujarat state last year. While traditional medicines are widely used in some regions, they also face significant criticism. Many traditional treatments lack proven scientific value, and the industry contributes to the rampant trade in endangered animals, such as tigers, rhinos, and pangolins, which poses a threat to entire species.
The WHO defines traditional medicine as the knowledge, skills, and practices used over time to maintain health, prevent, diagnose, and treat physical and mental illnesses. Meanwhile, top European medical bodies have previously called for traditional medicine to be subjected to the same regulatory oversight as conventional medical methods. WHO’s research chief, John Reeder, emphasized the need to apply rigorous standards to advance the scientific understanding of traditional medicine, similar to other fields of health. Currently, only 124 out of 194 WHO member states reported having laws or regulations governing herbal medicines, and only half have a national policy on traditional methods and medicines.