New Delhi, 8 December (H.S.): The second World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will convene in New Delhi from December 17 to 19, with a special focus on Ashwagandha, one of India’s most renowned and scientifically validated medicinal plants. A dedicated session on Ashwagandha will explore its traditional applications, scientific evidence, and potential role in global health systems.

Announcing the event at a press briefing at the National Media Centre on Monday, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, said the three-day summit — to be held at Bharat Mandapam — will be attended by delegates from over 100 countries and health ministers from 20 nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will grace the valedictory ceremony.

This year’s summit theme, “Restoring Balance: Integrating Science and Healthy Living,” reflects a global commitment to blending traditional practices with modern science for holistic well-being.

The conference will bring together ministers, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners from across the world.Jadhav said the session on Ashwagandha will be jointly organized by the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM), Jamnagar, and India’s Ministry of AYUSH.

“Under Prime Minister Modi’s visionary leadership, India has emerged as a global leader in traditional medicine. The AYUSH systems — encompassing Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy — have for centuries provided comprehensive health solutions and are now globally trusted systems,” he remarked.

Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director Emeritus for South-East Asia and Senior Advisor to the WHO Director-General, said the summit will help define the global framework for integrating traditional, complementary, and indigenous medicine into national health systems over the next decade.

She emphasized the need to strengthen research, innovation, and regulatory infrastructure to support evidence-based traditional medicine.AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha highlighted that India is the world’s leading producer of Ashwagandha and the country’s efforts now aim to establish the herb’s global scientific credibility.

“The dedicated session on Ashwagandha will delve into its benefits, research evidence, and opportunities for broader international recognition,” he said.Kotecha also revealed that the summit will unveil a major attraction — the Global Digital Library on Traditional Medicine, featuring over 1.6 million publications, including 70,000 from India.

The library will be accessible free of cost to researchers worldwide, offering a vast repository of knowledge on traditional health sciences.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar