Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony of Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister highlighted that over the past three days, experts from across the world in the field of traditional medicine have engaged in serious and meaningful discussions. He expressed happiness that India is serving as a strong platform for this purpose and noted the active role of WHO in the process. He extended heartfelt gratitude to WHO, the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and all the participants present for the successful organization of the summit.
“It is India’s privilege and a matter of pride that the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine has been established in Jamnagar”, said the Prime Minister. He recalled that in 2022, during the first Traditional Medicine Summit, the world entrusted India with this responsibility with great confidence. Shri Modi highlighted that it is a matter of happiness for all that the Centre’s reputation and influence are expanding globally, with the success of this summit serving as the biggest example. He noted that the summit is witnessing the confluence of traditional knowledge and modern practices, and several new initiatives have been launched here which can transform the future of medical science and holistic health. He emphasized that the summit has facilitated dialogue among health ministers and representatives of various countries, which has opened new avenues for promoting joint research, simplifying regulations, and advancing training and knowledge sharing. The Prime Minister underlined that such cooperation will play a vital role in making traditional medicine safer and more trustworthy in the future.
Highlighting the consensus reached on several important issues during the summit reflects the strength of global partnerships, Shri Modi remarked that strengthening research, increasing the use of digital technology in the field of traditional medicine, and creating regulatory frameworks that can be trusted worldwide will greatly empower traditional medicine. He noted that the Expo showcased digital health technology, AI-based tools, research innovations, and modern wellness infrastructure, which together demonstrated a new collaboration between tradition and technology. The Prime Minister emphasized that when tradition and technology come together, the capacity to make global health more effective increases significantly, and therefore the success of this summit holds great importance from a global perspective.
“Yoga is an integral part of the traditional medicine system and has shown the path of health, balance, and harmony to the entire world”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. He recalled that through India’s efforts and the support of more than 175 countries, the United Nations declared 21 June as International Yoga Day. Shri Modi remarked that in recent years yoga has reached every corner of the world. He appreciated every individual who has contributed significantly to the promotion and development of yoga. He noted that today a few distinguished personalities have been conferred with the Prime Minister’s Awards, selected through a rigorous process by an esteemed jury. He emphasized that these awardees symbolize dedication, discipline, and lifelong commitment to yoga, and their lives serve as an inspiration for all. Extending his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes, the Prime Minister lauded the honored awardees.
Prime Minister remarked that he was pleased to note that several important steps have been taken to give permanence to the outcomes of this summit. He highlighted the launch of the Traditional Medicine Global Library as a global platform that will preserve scientific data and policy documents related to traditional medicine in one place. Shri Modi emphasized that this initiative will make it easier for useful information to reach every country equally. He recalled that the announcement of this Library was made during India’s G20 Presidency at the first WHO Global Summit, and today that commitment has been realized.
Highlighting that health ministers from different countries have presented an excellent example of global partnership, the Prime Minister remarked that as partners, discussions have taken place on issues such as standards, safety, and investment. He noted that this dialogue has paved the way for the Delhi Declaration, which will serve as a shared roadmap for the coming years. Shri Modi appreciated the joint effort of the distinguished ministers from various countries and expressed gratitude for their cooperation.
Shri Modi further stated that today in Delhi, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office has also been inaugurated, describing it as a humble gift from India. He emphasized that this office will serve as a global hub to promote research, regulation, and capacity building.
Emphasizing that India is focusing on partnerships of healing across the world, Prime Minister Modi shared two significant collaborations, noting that the first is the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for BIMSTEC countries, covering South and South-East Asia, and the second is a collaboration with Japan aimed at integrating science, traditional practices, and health.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the theme of this summit, ‘Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being,’ reflects the foundational thought of holistic health. He remarked that Ayurveda equates balance with health, and only those whose bodies maintain this balance are truly healthy. He pointed out that today, diseases ranging from diabetes, heart attacks, and depression to cancer often have lifestyle and imbalances as their underlying causes, including work-life imbalance, diet imbalance, sleep imbalance, gut microbiome imbalance, calorie imbalance, and emotional imbalance. He stressed that many global health challenges are arising from these imbalances, with studies and data confirming the same, and acknowledged that health experts understand this even better. The Prime Minister underlined that ‘Restoring Balance’ is not just a global cause but a global urgency, and he called for faster steps to address it.
Underlining that in the 21st century, the challenge of maintaining balance in life is set to become even greater, Shri Modi highlighted that the advent of a new technological era, with AI and robotics, represents the biggest transformation in human history, and in the coming years the way of living will change in unprecedented ways. He emphasized the need to remain mindful that such sudden lifestyle changes, coupled with the convenience of resources and facilities without physical labor, will create unforeseen challenges for human bodies. The Prime Minister underlined that traditional healthcare must not only focus on present needs but also address future responsibilities, which are a shared obligation for all.
Prime Minister remarked that when traditional medicine is discussed, a natural question arises regarding safety and evidence. He highlighted that India is consistently working in this direction. He noted that during this summit, the example of Ashwagandha was presented. He emphasized that for centuries Ashwagandha has been used in India’s traditional medical systems. Shri Modi pointed out that during COVID-19, its global demand rose sharply and it began to be used in many countries. He underlined that India, through its research and evidence-based validation, is advancing Ashwagandha in a credible manner. He stated that during this summit, a special global discussion on Ashwagandha was organized. He mentioned that international experts deeply deliberated on its safety, quality, and usage. The Prime Minister affirmed that India is fully committed to making such time-tested herbs a part of global public health.
Highlighting that there was once a perception that traditional medicine was limited only to wellness or lifestyle, but today this perception is rapidly changing, Shri Modi remarked that traditional medicine can play an effective role even in critical situations, and India is moving forward with this vision. He expressed happiness that the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO-Traditional Medicine Center have launched a new initiative. He noted that both have made a joint effort to strengthen integrative cancer care in India, under which traditional medical systems will be combined with modern cancer treatment. He emphasized that this initiative will also help in preparing evidence-based guidelines. The Prime Minister pointed out that several important institutions in India are conducting clinical studies on serious health issues such as anemia, arthritis, and diabetes. He stated that many start-ups in India have also entered this field, with youthful energy joining ancient tradition. He underlined that through all these efforts, traditional medicine is visibly rising to new heights.
Prime Minister remarked that traditional medicine today stands at a decisive turning point. He highlighted that a large section of the global population has long relied on it, yet traditional medicine has not received the place it truly deserves despite its immense potential. He emphasized that trust must be won through science and its reach must be expanded further. He underlined that this responsibility does not lie with any single nation but is a shared duty of all. The Prime Minister noted that the participation, dialogue, and commitment witnessed during the past three days of this summit have deepened the belief that the world is ready to move forward together in this direction. He called upon everyone to resolve to advance traditional medicine with trust, respect, and responsibility, and once again extended his congratulations to all on the success of the summit.
Director General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Union Ministers, Shri JP Nadda, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, were present among other dignitaries at the event.