Modi Calls for Validation of Traditional Medicine at WHO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony of the second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi on December 19, 2025, calling for greater scientific validation and global collaboration to elevate traditional healing practices amid rising lifestyle-related diseases.

The three-day event, held from December 17 to 19 at Bharat Mandapam and jointly organized by the World Health Organization and India's Ministry of Ayush, brought together policymakers, scientists, practitioners, and representatives from over 100 countries. Under the theme "Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Wellbeing," participants discussed integrating traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems through evidence-based research, regulatory frameworks, and digital innovations like artificial intelligence.

In his speech, Modi highlighted the summit's role in fostering dialogues among health ministers and experts, which opened pathways for joint research, simplified regulations, and enhanced training. He described traditional medicine as standing at a decisive turning point, noting that a large portion of the global population relies on it yet it often lacks...