India moving gradually to integration of modern and traditional medicine systems: AYUSH Secretary

India has been gradually moving towards a more integrated and collaborative approach between modern and traditional systems of medicine, rather than forcing a sudden or complete merger, according to AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha.

The top official from the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, known as AYUSH, was speaking exclusively to The Hindu about the World Health Organization (WHO)’s second global summit on traditional medicine, jointly organised with the Government of India. 

The summit started on Wednesday, bringing together Ministers, scientists, indigenous leaders, and practitioners from more than 100 countries.

Rational approach

Discussing the integration of therapies, the Secretary said that the emphasis is on a rational approach, where each system contributes according to its strengths, supported by scientific evidence and appropriate regulatory safeguards.

“In education and practice, the focus is on cross-disciplinary exposure, collaborative research, and referral-based models of care, particularly at the level of primary health services,” he said, adding that the summit provides an important platform to discuss global experiences, share best practices, and reflect on how integration can be pursued in a manner that enhances patient safety, clinical outcomes, and health system resilience.

The summit is expected to announce major scientific initiatives and new commitments aimed at advancing the implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, centred on stronger evidence, better regulation, systems integration, collaboration, and community engagement. 

Strengthening evidence base

Mr. Kotecha also explained India’s major agendas during the event. “The summit is an opportunity to engage constructively with the global community on strengthening the evidence base, governance, and integration of traditional medicine. A key focus will be on sharing India’s experience in institutional frameworks for education, research, regulation, and service delivery across various systems,” he said.

India is also expected to highlight the importance of biodiversity conservation, the ethical use of medicinal resources, and the protection of traditional knowledge. Another important agenda is contributing to global discussions on regulatory harmonisation, quality assurance, and capacity building, particularly for countries seeking to integrate traditional medicine into their primary health care systems in a safe and structured manner.

While the summit’s main focus is not commercial expansion, discussions on investment, financing, and international collaboration are also integral to strengthening research, education, and innovation in traditional medicine, the Secretary noted.

“India views global engagement as an opportunity for knowledge exchange, collaborative research and capacity building, rather than unilateral expansion. Any international growth of Indian systems of medicine is expected to be evidence-based, demand-driven and aligned with national regulations of partner countries, as well as WHO guidance on safety, quality, and efficacy,” he said.