Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Overview
- This is about the growing global recognition of traditional medicine, the shift toward preventive and integrative health, and India’s leadership in the sector, including the upcoming 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine (2025).
Rising Relevance of Traditional Medicine
- Global rise in lifestyle diseases, environmental degradation, and social stress has revived interest in holistic health systems.
- Traditional medicine views health as balance and equilibrium, aligning body, mind, community, and environment.
- WHO reports that ~90% of its member-states engage with traditional medicine, making it a first line of care for billions.
Holistic Value Beyond Healthcare
- Traditional systems support biodiversity, nutrition, food security, and rural livelihoods.
- India’s AYUSH sector is valued at $43.4 billion, reflecting rising global acceptance.
- Shift from reactive treatment to proactive, preventive and personalised care is expanding integrative approaches.
India as a Global Hub
- India has emerged as a centre for innovation and R&D in traditional medicine.
- WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), Jamnagar acts as a global knowledge hub for evidence-based collaboration.
- GTMC focuses on evidence, sustainability, equity, and respect for local heritage.
Government Initiatives
- Strong emphasis on evidence-based AYUSH research under national policy direction.
- AYUSH department at BIS and global standard-setting through ISO/TC 249/SC 2 promote global credibility.
- WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine (Gandhinagar, 2023) mobilised global political support.
- Gujarat Declaration called for protecting biodiversity, fair benefit-sharing, digital innovation, and equitable access.
- India and WHO will co-host the 2nd Global Summit (New Delhi, December 2025) aligned with WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–34.
India’s Approach to the Future
- India demonstrates that traditional knowledge can coexist with modern science, technology, and ethics.
- Emphasis on integration: combining research, community participation, sustainability, and technological tools.
- Message: health systems must heal without harming, and development must remain balanced and inclusive.