The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine concluded in New Delhi on December 19, 2025, jointly organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and India's Ministry of AYUSH. Held from December 17–19 under the theme 'Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being', the summit drew over 800 delegates from more than 100 countries, including ministers from over 20 nations, and garnered more than 16,000 online registrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony, reaffirming India's leadership in promoting traditional medicine systems globally. The summit culminated in the adoption of the 'Delhi Declaration', backed by commitments from 26 WHO Member States. The declaration focuses on integrating traditional medicine into primary health care systems, strengthening regulatory and safety standards, investing in research and evidence generation, and building interoperable data systems to track health outcomes. A landmark outcome was the unveiling of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library — a first-of-its-kind digital platform consolidating 1.6 million resources encompassing scientific studies, clinical evidence, and indigenous knowledge systems from across the world. India's formally recognised AYUSH systems — Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy — were showcased as exemplars of codified, evidence-supported traditional knowledge. The first WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2023, co-hosted by WHO and the Indian government alongside the G20 Health Working Group. India signed an MoU with WHO in October 2025 to host the second summit, underscoring the country's sustained diplomatic and scientific investment in traditional medicine.
Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine Concludes in New Delhi with 'Delhi Declaration'; India Co-hosts Landmark Event with WHO
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine concluded in New Delhi on December 19, 2025, jointly organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and India's Ministry of AYUSH. Held from December 17–19 under the theme 'Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being', the summit drew over 800 delegates from more than 100 countries, including ministers from over 20 nations, and garnered more than 16,000 online registrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony, reaffirming India's leadership in promoting traditional medicine systems globally. The summit culminated in the adoption of the 'Delhi Declaration', backed by commitments from 26 WHO Member States. The declaration focuses on integrating traditional medicine into primary health care systems, strengthening regulatory and safety standards, investing in research and evidence generation, and building interoperable data systems to track health outcomes. A landmark outcome was the unveiling of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library — a first-of-its-kind digital platform consolidating 1.6 million resources encompassing scientific studies, clinical evidence, and indigenous knowledge systems from across the world. India's formally recognised AYUSH systems — Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy — were showcased as exemplars of codified, evidence-supported traditional knowledge. The first WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2023, co-hosted by WHO and the Indian government alongside the G20 Health Working Group. India signed an MoU with WHO in October 2025 to host the second summit, underscoring the country's sustained diplomatic and scientific investment in traditional medicine.
Key facts
- The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine concluded in New Delhi on December 19, 2025.
- Co-organised by WHO and India's Ministry of AYUSH with PM Modi addressing the closing ceremony.
- The Delhi Declaration was backed by 26 WHO Member States committing to integrate traditional medicine.
- WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library was unveiled, consolidating 1.6 million resources digitally.
- India's six AYUSH systems were showcased as exemplars of evidence-supported traditional knowledge.
- The first WHO Global Summit was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2023 alongside the G20 Health Working Group.
Mains angle
Q: How does the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine and the Delhi Declaration advance India's role in integrating traditional medicine into global health systems?
Answer (50 words):
The Delhi Declaration, backed by 26 WHO member states, commits to integrating traditional medicine into primary healthcare, strengthening regulatory standards, and investing in evidence-based research. The WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library consolidates 1.6 million resources worldwide. India's AYUSH systems were showcased as exemplars, reinforcing sustained diplomatic investment since the 2023 Gandhinagar summit.
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India co-hosted the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in which city?
The summit was held in New Delhi, jointly organised by WHO and India.
Source: WHO.int / PIB India / PM India / UN India / The Hindu
Frequently asked questions
What is the Delhi Declaration and who endorsed it at the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine?
The Delhi Declaration is a landmark commitment document adopted at the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi in December 2025. It was endorsed by 26 WHO Member States, pledging to integrate traditional medicine into their national health systems.
When and where was the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held, and what was its theme?
The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held in New Delhi from December 17–19, 2025. It was jointly organised by WHO and India's Ministry of AYUSH. The theme was 'Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being'.
What is the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library and what was its significance at the 2025 summit?
The WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library is a digital repository unveiled at the 2nd WHO Global Summit in New Delhi. It consolidates 1.6 million resources on traditional medicine, making evidence-based traditional health knowledge accessible globally.
Where was the first WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held and what was its connection to G20?
The first WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2023, alongside the G20 Health Working Group. India's hosting of both summits underscores its leadership in promoting traditional medicine on the global stage.
What are India's six AYUSH systems and why were they significant at the 2nd WHO Global Summit?
India's six AYUSH systems are Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homeopathy. At the 2nd WHO Global Summit, they were showcased as exemplars of evidence-supported traditional knowledge, reflecting India's effort to integrate traditional medicine with modern health frameworks.
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