LIVE: Dr Tedros remarks at the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine

Summary

This transcript highlights a speech at a summit focused on traditional medicine, with deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in promoting global health. It emphasizes the synergy between traditional medicine and modern science, showcasing India’s role in elevating traditional healing systems on the world stage. The speech discusses key global commitments to integrate traditional medicine into health systems, ensuring its safety, evidence-based practice, and equitable access. It also introduces the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Library as a major step toward preserving and promoting traditional knowledge for future generations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'One Earth, One Health' emphasizes the importance of balance between people and nature, prevention over cure, and shared responsibility for health.
• 😀 India's leadership has successfully elevated traditional medicine on the global health agenda, incorporating both heritage and science.
• 😀 India’s establishment of the Ministry of Aayush and the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Center in Jamnagar reflects the integration of tradition with innovation.
• 😀 Traditional medicine is not an alternative to modern science, but a complementary, living science vital for addressing modern health challenges.
• 😀 The global summit has brought together over 100 countries, with scientists, practitioners, ministers, indigenous leaders, and communities united in the pursuit of bridging traditional and modern health practices.
• 😀 Traditional medicine offers solutions for modern health issues, such as non-communicable diseases, inequitable access to healthcare, and climate change.
• 😀 Through the Delhi Declaration, countries have committed to strengthening the evidence base for traditional medicine, ensuring safety and quality, and safeguarding cultural heritage.
• 😀 The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy (2025-2034) will focus on science, ethics, equity, and global solidarity to guide the integration of traditional medicine into health systems.
• 😀 The launch of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Library will support equitable access, intellectual property protection, and innovation in traditional medicine worldwide.
• 😀 Moving forward, success will be measured by the translation of commitments into national policies, investments in research and workforce development, and ensuring equitable benefits for underserved communities.
• 😀 The real success of the summit depends on the actions taken post-summit, ensuring that traditional medicine is responsibly integrated into health systems globally.

Q & A

Who did the speaker thank at the beginning of the summit?

The speaker thanked the government and people of India, particularly Prime Minister Modi, for hosting the summit and for his leadership and partnership in promoting traditional medicine globally.

What is the vision of 'One Earth, One Health' mentioned in the speech?

The vision emphasizes the balance between people and nature, prioritizing prevention over cure, and recognizing health as a shared responsibility, aligning with WHO's goals of health equity, sustainability, and resilience.

How has India contributed to elevating traditional medicine globally?

India has established the Ministry of AYUSH, created the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Center in Jamnagar, and demonstrated that traditional wisdom and modern science can work together to advance health innovation.

Why does the speaker describe traditional medicine as a 'living science'?

Traditional medicine is described as a living science because it is actively used, integrated into modern health systems, and plays a significant role in universal health coverage, resilient health systems, and sustainable development.

What are the main global health challenges that traditional medicine can help address?

Traditional medicine can help address non-communicable diseases, inequitable access to health services, and the health impacts of climate change, while promoting culturally grounded and holistic care.

What commitments were made in the Delhi Declaration regarding traditional medicine?

The commitments include strengthening the evidence base through ethical research, ensuring safety and public trust via regulation, safeguarding biodiversity and traditional knowledge, harnessing digital technologies responsibly, and integrating traditional medicine into health systems.

What is the purpose of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034?

The strategy aims to guide traditional medicine globally with a focus on scientific evidence, ethical principles, equity, and solidarity, promoting responsible integration into health systems.

What is the significance of the newly launched WHO Global Traditional Medicine Library?

The library is more than a repository; it protects intellectual property and community rights, supports equitable access and benefit sharing, and provides a platform for evidence-informed policy, education, and innovation globally.

According to the speaker, how should the success of the summit be measured?

The summit's success should be measured by the practical implementation of commitments in countries and communities, including policy development, research investment, workforce development, responsible integration of traditional medicine, and equitable benefits for underserved populations.

What key message did the speaker emphasize about the relationship between science and tradition?

The speaker emphasized that science and tradition are partners, not opposites, and that restoring balance between people, communities, and the planet is essential to building healthier societies for future generations.

How did the speaker highlight Prime Minister Modi’s role in the summit?

The speaker praised Prime Minister Modi for his leadership in bringing the vision of integrating traditional medicine and modern health practices to the global stage and acknowledged his strong personal commitment by attending the summit despite a busy schedule.