India donates 85 million dollars to WHO’s World Health Organization

Around the world, traditional medicine is used by billions of people for their health and well-being. At the signing ceremony held in Geneva, the Government of India committed $85 million over a period of 10 years, 2022-2032, to support the programs of the WHO’s World Health Organization. India’s 10-year grant will support an interdisciplinary work program to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine by providing data and evidence on traditional medicine policies, practices, products and uses. the community.

The WHO-India donor agreement is part of a 250 billion investment from India to support the establishment of the WHO World Health Organization by 2022, which includes financial support for the work plan of Center, temporary buildings and new building. . This support will enhance WHO’s capacity in traditional medicine across technical and regional divisions in a spirit of global cooperation and solidarity. A portion of this major contribution from the Government of India will also be included in WHO’s Investment Round to support WHO’s core work in the period 2025–2028.

Photo: WHO/Lindsay Mackenzie

“India’s commitment and leadership in expanding the evidence-based contribution of traditional medicine to the health and well-being of all people and the planet, comes at an opportune time,” said Dr. Bruce Aylward, Deputy Director-General of the Universal Health Coverage and Life Course division. of WHO. . “Traditional medicine, supported within national health systems, can allow us to reach those who are often left behind. Integrating cultural practices and knowledge is essential to achieving good health for all. ”

“The signing of this donor agreement is an important step towards achieving the shared vision of the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and WHO Director-General Tedros for the development of the WHO Jamnagar Global Medical Center in India,” said the Deputy Minister. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.

India remains committed to supporting WHO in its mission to strengthen traditional medicine systems worldwide for health protection and service for all, especially through this Global Center in Jamnagar, which would help focus these efforts for the benefit of all Member States. Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva.

The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Center is a knowledge center focusing on five areas of work: research and evidence; primary health care and universal security; Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity; digital health tools; and the annual WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit and collaborations. The center is headed by Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director ai

The first WHO World Conference on traditional medicine was held in August 2023 in Gujarat, which resulted in a program of mass action, the Gujarat Declaration. The next WHO World Conference is scheduled for November 2025, after the expected publication of the 2025-2034 World Strategy on Traditional Medicine at 78.^th World Health Assembly in May 2025.

India’s support for traditional medicine has been demonstrated through various long-standing relationships with the WHO. In 2023, India signed a five-year agreement to support the technical work of WHO’s Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCI) sector. The Unit supports the development of the new global strategy for traditional medicine of the WHO (2025 – 2034) requested by Member States (2025 – 2034), and publishes important documents, common words , and other proven technical products to support the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine. in national health systems.

The Center and TCI collaborate closely with groups across WHO to advance WHO’s many initiatives on traditional medicine, including through regular meetings of the WHO Technical Expert Network, organized by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Center and TCI , to promote the One WHO approach to traditional medicine. across headquarters, regional and country offices.