Letter to Editor: World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine and Charting the Path for the Next Decade

Ghods, Roshanak

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Ghods R. Letter to Editor: World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine and Charting the Path for the Next Decade. cmja 2026; 15 (4)
URL: http://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-1079-en.html

Letter to Editor: World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine and Charting the Path for the Next Decade

Roshanak Ghods ^*

Institute for Studies in Medical History, Persian and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , ghods.r@iums.ac.ir

Abstract: (37 Views)

In recent years, traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine has gained increasing attention as part of health systems’ responses to challenges, such as the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, inequitable access to health services, and the need for holistic approaches to health and well-being. In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in December 2025 in New Delhi, India. With participation from representatives of more than 100 countries, the Summit is recognized as one of the most influential international events in this field. This report examines the overall framework and key themes of the Summit, its major scientific, technological, and institutional outcomes, the Delhi Declaration 2025, and the Islamic Republic of Iran's position within the WHO’s evolving strategies. The Summit emphasized a transition from descriptive perspectives toward evidence-informed policy-making, the development of standardized research, the safe and accountable integration of traditional medicine into health systems, and the strengthening of governance mechanisms. Overall, the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine marks a turning point in the maturation of the global discourse on this topic. By highlighting the protection of indigenous knowledge, innovation, data standardization, and international commitments, the Summit charts a path for the next decade of effective and evidence-based integration of traditional and complementary medicine into health systems.

Keywords: Health Policy, Traditional Medicine, World Health Organization

Type of Study: Review Paper | Subject: Traditional medicine

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