India has pledged 85 million US dollars to support traditional medicine research over the next ten years. The money will go to the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, which opened in 2022 in the Indian city of Jamnagar. Officials signed the agreement in Geneva last month. The funding is part of India's larger 250-million-dollar investment in the centre. It will help gather evidence about traditional medicine practices used worldwide.
Billions of people worldwide rely on traditional medicine for their health needs. The new centre focuses on research, primary healthcare, and Indigenous knowledge systems. WHO officials say traditional medicine can help reach communities that lack access to modern healthcare. India will also support the centre's global summit, which brings together experts every two years. The next meeting is planned for November 2025.