The announcement was made this week with the objective of seeking political commitments that promote the first therapeutic option that millions of people turn to to satisfy their health and well-being needs.

The event will take place on August 17 and 18 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, the event’s co-sponsor country, and will include the participation of the highest authorities of the WHO, health ministers of the G20 countries and senior leaders of nations from the six regions of the Organization, as well as scientists and medical professionals.

The Summit will discuss ways to enhance scientific advances and the potential of evidence-based knowledge to apply traditional medicine to improve the health and well-being of people around the world.

Technical sessions will be held by scientists and other experts on research, testing and learning; policies, data and regulation; innovation and digital health; and biodiversity, equity and knowledge of indigenous peoples.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that traditional medicine can play a key role in making universal health coverage a reality and reclaiming ground that, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, had been lost in the pursuit of the world goals related to health.

Incorporating traditional medicine in an appropriate, effective and, above all, safe way, supported by the most recent scientific evidence, can help to solve the deficiencies that prevent millions of people around the world from having access to it, he pointed out.

“It would be an important step to adopt holistic and people-centred approaches to health and well-being,” said the WHO head.

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