India, Dec. 29 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The "Delhi Declaration," issued at the World Health Organization's (WHO) Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, marked the beginning of a new chapter in integrative medicine. The Declaration took into account emerging evidence from both traditional and modern medicine, emphasizing the safe, effective, and evidence-based integration of traditional medicine into national health systems, particularly those focused on universal health coverage (UHC) through primary health care.
The Summit on Traditional Medicine, jointly organized by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and the World Health Organization (WHO) from December 17-19 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, was held on the theme " Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being." Health policymakers, experts, researchers and other stakeholders of traditional medicine from over 100 countries contributed to the drafting of the "Delhi Declaration," issued in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and WHO Director General Dr. Tedros, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi praised the innovations taking place globally in integrative medicine and said, "There was a perception about traditional medicine that its role was limited to wellness or lifestyle. But today, this perception is rapidly changing. Traditional medicine can play an effective role even in critical situations. With this vision, India is moving forward in this field. I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO-Traditional Medicine Center have launched a new initiative. They have jointly undertaken a joint effort to strengthen integrative cancer care in India. This initiative will integrate traditional medical systems with modern cancer treatments. This initiative will also help develop evidence-based guidelines. Many leading institutions in India are conducting clinical studies on such critical health issues, including anemia, arthritis, and diabetes. Many start-ups in India have also emerged in this field. Youth power is being integrated with ancient traditions. All these efforts are strengthening traditional medicine." Medicine seems to be moving towards a new height."
India's work in integrative medicine has been praised by the World Health Organization itself. According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros, "By establishing the Ministry of AYUSH and the Global Center for Traditional Medicine, India has demonstrated to the world that modern medical science and traditional medicine are not contradictory but complementary."
According to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, "Modern medicine in India has undergone significant changes. Previous health policies focused on curing disease. The new Health Policy 2017 became a holistic health policy that promotes the idea of health in its entirety. It includes prevention, promotion of health, curative, palliative, geriatric, and the Honorable Prime Minister added integrative medicine."
Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Honorable Union Minister of AYUSH, Government of India, commended the "Delhi Declaration" on this historic occasion, saying, "The Delhi Declaration presents a global roadmap for traditional medicine, based on the principles of evidence, inclusion, and sustainable development. This Declaration is a historic step towards integrating AYUSH and other traditional medical systems into mainstream health systems globally."
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, underscored the significance of the Delhi Declaration, saying, "The Delhi Declaration reflects a shared commitment to strengthen research, standardization, capacity building, and global collaboration. This will help advance the goals of universal health coverage while ensuring that traditional medicine is safe, effective, and accessible."
Building on the "Gujarat Declaration" that emerged from the first Summit on Traditional Medicine held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2022, the "Delhi Declaration" also highlights the breadth of traditional medicine, its growing scientific evidence base, its potential for innovation and new solutions to emerging health challenges. Drawing from the shared experiences of over 100 countries, nearly 800 participants, over 20,000 online participants, and over 3,000 invited members, the "Delhi Declaration" focuses on resolutions across four areas. These four resolutions are:
1. Strengthening evidence-based knowledge.
Participating countries pledged to promote rigorous , ethical, and multidisciplinary research on traditional medicine , balancing scientific standards with traditional knowledge. Resources such as the Global Library of Traditional Medicine will provide access to research, data, and policy documents.
2. Ensuring safety, quality and public trust The emphasis is on establishing consistent , risk-based regulation
for safety and quality so that standards for traditional medicine products, procedures and trainers are clear and reliable.
3. स्वास्थ्य प्रणालियों में सुरक्षित और प्रभावी पारंपरिक चिकित्सा का एकीकरण
विशेष रूप से पारंपरिक चिकित्सा को राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य प्रणालियों में शामिल करना, खासकर प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य देखभाल (PHC) स्तर पर जहाँ से सार्वभौमिक स्वास्थ्य कवरेज की नींव रखी जाती है। इसका लक्ष्य है कि पारंपरिक चिकित्सा को सुरक्षित, प्रभावी रूप से स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं का हिस्सा बनाया जाए, जिससे लोगों को स्थानीय स्तर पर अधिक विकल्प और सुलभ स्वास्थ्य सहायता मिल सके।
4. नवाचार और डिजिटल प्रौद्योगिकी का जिम्मेदारीपूर्ण उपयोग
डिजिटल तकनीकों, डेटा विज्ञान और नवाचार, जैसे एआई तथा जीनोमिक्स, का इस्तेमाल पारंपरिक चिकित्सा के शोध और डेटा तक पहुंच को बेहतर बनाने के लिए किया जाए। इससे वैश्विक स्तर पर ज्ञान साझा करने और स्वास्थ्य प्रणालियों में पारदर्शिता बढ़ाने में मदद मिलेगी।
"दिल्ली घोषणापत्र" के इन संकल्पों को पारंपरिक चिकित्सा पद्यतियों के स्वास्थ्य प्रणालियों में एकीकरण लिये एक नये अध्याय के रूप में भी देखा जा सकता है। यही संकल्प वैश्विक स्तर पर आधुनिक चिकित्सा और पारंपरिक चिकित्सा के एकीकरण की नींव भी हैं और पारंपरिक चिकित्सा के विस्तार की राह भी। आयुष मंत्रालय भी पहले से ही पारंपरिक चिकित्सा को आधाुनिक चिकित्सा के साथ एकीकृत करने के लिये प्रयास करता आया है। इसके लिये आयुरस्वास्थ्य योजना के तहत सरकारी, गैर-सरकारी और गैर-लाभकारी संगठनों के साथ मिलकर आयुष शिक्षा, औषधि विकास, क्लीनिकल और ट्रांसलेशनल अनुसंधान से जुड़े चुनिंदा संस्थानों के साथ मिलकर उत्कृष्टता केंद्र स्थापित किये गये है और इनकी संख्या लगातार बढ़ाई जा रही है। अब तक सीओई योजना के तहत कुल 51 परियोजनाओं को मंजूरी दी चुकी है और 31 परियोजनायें सफलतापूर्वक पूरी हो चुकी हैं। आईसीएमआर के साथ एकीकृत स्वास्थ्य अनुसंधान भी इसी एम्स को शामिल करते हुये इसी क्रम को आगे बढ़ा रहे हैं। इस पहल के तहत गैस्ट्रो-आंत्र संबंधी विकार, महिला और बाल स्वास्थ्य, वृद्धावस्था स्वास्थ्य, कैंसर देखभाल आदि पर ध्यान केंद्रित किया जा रहा है। इसके साथ ही आयुष रिसर्च पोर्टल में 43 हजार से अधिक अनुसंधान प्रकाशन भी आयुष मंत्रालय की इस प्रतिबद्धता को दर्शा रहे हैं। एकीकृत स्वास्थ्य की नींव पर जन-स्वास्थ्य को राष्ट्रीय आयुष मिशन के माध्यम से प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य क्षेत्र में सार्वभौमिक स्वास्थ्य कवरेज का लक्ष्य ही है जिसके प्रति आयुष मंत्रालय अपनी प्रतिबद्धता को रेखांकित करता आया है और जो "दिल्ली घोषणापत्र" के तीसरे संकल्प से भी सामने आता है।
पारम्परिक चिकित्सा के दुसरे शिखर सम्मेलन 2025 में विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन ने पारंपरिक चिकित्सा रणनीति 2024-2034 को आगे बढ़ाते हुये सदस्य देशों सहित एकीकृत चिकित्सा के काम को आगे बढ़ाने का संकल्प लिया। विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन ने सदस्य देशों, अनुसंधान से जुड़ीं संस्थाओं सहित अन्य हितधारकों से आग्रह किया कि वे एकीकृत चिकित्सा में नये साक्ष्य जुटायें, उसे प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्र में आगे ले जायें और एकीकरण के लिये सार्थक वित्तीय व्यवस्था करें।
The "Delhi Declaration" on Traditional Medicine also reflects a profound shift in the global health discourse. By synergizing modern science and traditional knowledge, the Declaration opens a new chapter in integrative medicine , focusing on healing as well as prevention, balance, and holistic well-being. The commitment to integrate safe, effective, and evidence-based traditional medicine into the national health infrastructure through primary health systems is a concrete step towards universal health coverage. The "Delhi Declaration" sends a clear message that future health systems will be based on collaboration, not competition-where tradition and modernity will coexist to pave the way for human well-being.
Disclaimer: The original story of this translated version is available on Press Information Bureau.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
