The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently conducted the groundbreaking ceremony of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM), a first-of-its-kind establishment. It is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This initiative is set to be followed by the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar, aiming to boost investments and demonstrate innovations in traditional medicine.
These ventures aim at fostering enduring partnerships, bolstering exports, and nurturing a sustainable ecosystem within the realm of traditional medicine.
Purpose and Mission of the GCTM
The newly established GCTM plans to leverage the potential of traditional medicine by integrating it with technological advancements and evidence-based research. The centre will formulate policies and standards on traditional medicine products and assist countries in developing comprehensive, safe, and high-quality health systems.
It supports the implementation of the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014-23) designed to strengthen the role of traditional medicine in achieving universal health coverage. It’s noteworthy that approximately 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine.
To support the establishment, infrastructure, and operations of the GCTM, India has committed an estimated USD 250 million. The GCTM will primarily focus on four strategic areas: evidence and learning, data and analytics, sustainability and equity, and innovation and technology.
Understanding Traditional Medicine
As defined by WHO, traditional medicine is the total sum of knowledge, skills, and practices used by various cultures over time to maintain health and to prevent, diagnose, and treat physical and mental illness. Acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, and herbal mixtures are all examples of traditional medicine practices, along with other forms of modern medicine.
In the Indian context, traditional medicine includes practices and therapies like yoga, Ayurveda, Siddha, and homeopathy, among others. Ayurveda and yoga are widely practised across the country, while Siddha system is predominantly prevalent in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the Sowa-Rigpa system is practised in regions like Leh-Ladakh and Himalayan regions.
The Need to Advance Knowledge of Traditional Medicine
Though traditional medicine has a global presence, its practitioners, accredited courses, and health facilities are not fully integrated into national health systems and strategies.
Moreover, with around 40% of approved pharmaceutical products deriving from natural substances, there is growing importance in conserving biodiversity. Modern scientific tools such as artificial intelligence and functional magnetic resonance imaging are being used to study evidence, trends, and brain activity linked to traditional medicine practices.
Furthermore, the GCTM aims to serve as an international hub, setting standards for traditional medicine practices and products.
Past Collaborative Efforts by India in Traditional Medicine
Earlier collaborative initiatives by India include the signing of a Project Collaboration Agreement (PCA) with WHO in 2016 in the area of traditional medicine to establish benchmarks for training and to promote the quality, safety, and consumer protection of traditional medicine.
India has also signed around 32 MoUs for research and development collaborations in traditional medicine with institutes, universities, and organisations worldwide. Moreover, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to identify opportunities for scientific and technological research within and beyond India, including the area of traditional medicine.