**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Ayush and WHO will co-host the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine from December 17-19, 2025, in New Delhi. The summit aims to promote the integration of traditional medicine into healthcare systems and will focus on scientific validation, digital health, biodiversity protection, and global collaboration. A dedicated side event on Ashwagandha is scheduled, emphasizing its importance in traditional and contemporary health practices.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Summit Overview:**
* The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will be held in New Delhi from December 17-19, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam.
* The theme for this year's summit is "Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being."
* The Summit follows a successful first edition held in Gujarat in 2023.
* **Objectives and Focus:**
* To drive evidence-based integration of traditional, complementary, integrative, and Indigenous medicines into national health systems.
* To emphasize scientific validation, digital health, biodiversity protection, and global collaboration in traditional medicine.
* To shape a decade-long roadmap for global health cooperation.
* To bridge evidence gaps through research, innovation, and regulatory strengthening.
* **Participants and Representation:**
* The summit will bring together Ministers, policymakers, global health leaders, researchers, experts, industry representatives, and practitioners from over 100 countries.
* The Prime Minister of India is expected to attend the closing ceremony.
* **Ayush's Role:**
* The Ministry of Ayush will host a dedicated side event on Ashwagandha.
* The Ministry emphasizes India's global leadership in Traditional Medicine, highlighting the Ayush systems.
* Ministry organized Curtain Raiser Press Conference at the National Media Centre, New Delhi.
* **Side Event:**
* The side event titled "Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts" will be held on December 17-19, 2025.
* It is organized by WHO-GTMC in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush.
* The session aims to deepen scientific understanding of Ashwagandha, combining traditional knowledge with contemporary evidence.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Ayush**
* **Impact:** Hosting and co-organizing the summit and side event, enhancing India's global leadership in traditional medicine.
* **Action Required:** Continue planning and coordinating the summit and side event, ensure participation and engagement from relevant stakeholders.
**World Health Organization (WHO)**
* **Impact:** Co-hosting the summit, advancing global health cooperation in traditional medicine.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with the Ministry of Ayush in organizing the summit, contribute to shaping the roadmap for integrating traditional medicine.
**Global Health Leaders, Policymakers, Researchers, Experts, Industry Representatives, and Practitioners**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to contribute to discussions, share knowledge, and influence the future of traditional medicine integration.
* **Action Required:** Attend the summit, participate in discussions, share research and expertise, and collaborate on initiatives for evidence-based integration of traditional medicine.
**General Public/Global Community**
* **Impact:** Potential for improved access to holistic, integrative, and sustainable healthcare through traditional medicine.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about the summit's outcomes and initiatives, advocate for the integration of evidence-based traditional medicine into healthcare systems.
Key Entities Referenced
2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine: A summit co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO to advance global health cooperation through traditional medicine.
Ministry of Ayush: The Indian government ministry co-hosting the summit and highlighting India's role in traditional medicine.
WHO: The World Health Organization, co-hosting the summit with the Ministry of Ayush.
New Delhi: The location of the summit and curtain raiser event in India.
Ashwagandha: A medicinal plant featured in a dedicated side event at the summit, highlighting its importance in traditional medicine.
AYUSH
India Commences Countdown to 2nd WHO
Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
Union Minister Shri Jadhav addresses Curtain Raiser for the
2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New
Delhi
India leads the world in restoring balance through traditional
medicine: Shri Prataprao Jadhav
Summit to drive evidence-based integration of traditional
medicine: Dr. Poonam Khetrapal
The Global Summit to be co-hosted by Ministry of Ayush and
WHO from 17–19 December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New
Delhi
Summit to focus on scientific validation, digital health,
biodiversity protection, and global collaboration in traditional
medicine
प्रव तथ: 08 DEC 2025 4:35PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Ayush today organized a Curtain Raiser Press Conference at the National Media Centre,
New Delhi, ahead of the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, to be held from 17–19
December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Union Minister of State (IC) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, expressed great pride that India will host
the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, following the successful first edition held in
Gujarat in 2023. He stated that this Summit stands as another important milestone in the collective global
effort to mainstream traditional medicine for the health, happiness, and well-being of humanity, in
alignment with India’s vision of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah.”
Shri Jadhav informed that this year’s Summit carries the theme “Restoring balance: The science and
practice of health and well-being.” The event will bring together Ministers, policymakers, global health
leaders, researchers, experts, industry representatives, and practitioners from across the world. He also
shared that participation is expected from over 100 countries.The Minister announced that the Ministry of Ayush will host a dedicated side event on Ashwagandha,
one of India’s most renowned and scientifically studied medicinal plants, highlighting its importance in
traditional and contemporary health practices.
Emphasizing India’s global leadership in Traditional Medicine, the Minister said that Ayush systems—
Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy—have served people for
centuries and are today recognized worldwide as trusted solutions for holistic health. He added that the
establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, in partnership with
India, reflects the growing global confidence in India’s traditional knowledge systems.
Shri Jadhav commended the continuous efforts of the Ministry of Ayush and the World Health
Organization in planning the upcoming Summit and acknowledged the essential role of the media in
enhancing awareness and strengthening public trust in traditional medicine.
The Minister shared that the Prime Minister of India is expected to grace the closing ceremony of the
Summit. He expressed confidence that the deliberations and collaborations emerging from the Summit
will guide the world towards a more holistic, inclusive, and sustainable future of healthcare.
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal, Regional Director Emeritus of the WHO South-East Asia Region and Senior
Advisor on Traditional Medicine to the WHO Director-General, emphasized that the 2nd WHO Global
Summit on Traditional Medicine marks a milestone in advancing global health cooperation. She noted that
with participation from over 100 countries, the Summit will shape a decade-long roadmap for evidence-
based, equitable, and sustainable integration of traditional, complementary, integrative, and Indigenous
medicines into national health systems.
Highlighting the global reliance on traditional medicine, she stressed the urgent need to bridge evidence
gaps through research, innovation, and regulatory strengthening.
As part of the Summit deliberations, a focused side event titled “Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom
to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts” will be held on 17–19 December 2025.
Organized by WHO-GTMC in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, the session will bring together
leading researchers, policymakers, and clinicians to deepen scientific understanding of Ashwagandha.
Discussions will highlight contemporary evidence on its adaptogenic, neuroprotective, and
immunomodulatory properties, combined with insights from traditional knowledge. With an emphasis on
safety assessments, the session aims to further advance global acceptance of high-quality, evidence-based
Ashwagandha products.
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha; Shri Dhirendra Ojha, Principal Director General,
Press Information Bureau; Ms Alarmelmangai D, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; Ms. Monalisa Dash,
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; and Shri Satyajit Paul, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Ayush
were present on the dais with the Minister. The event was also attended by senior officials of the Ministry
of Ayush, and members of the media.
The Curtain Raiser event follows the Ambassadors’ Reception held on 9–10 November 2025, where
diplomats were apprised of India–WHO collaboration and the global significance of the Summit.
With today’s event, India officially commences the countdown to the 2nd WHO Global Summit on
Traditional Medicine, reaffirming its commitment to advancing holistic, integrative, and sustainable
healthcare globally.***
SR/GS/SG
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2200420) आगंतुक पटल : 2199
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Marathi , Punjabi , Gujarati , Odia , Telugu