Traditional Medicine Takes Center Stage In G20 Discussions, India's Sherpa Amitabh Kant Says

The potential role of traditional medicine in addressing global health challenges has emerged as a significant topic of discussion at the G20 summit, with India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant highlighting its importance during an interaction with G20 engagement groups on Sunday. According to a statement issued by the Ayush Ministry, stakeholders unanimously praised the efforts of the Indian government for bringing traditional medicine to the forefront of G20 discussions on health.

"I greatly appreciate the Ministry of Ayush for actively collaborating with all engagement and working groups. We need to amplify the importance of Ayush practices in achieving holistic health and well-being," Kant stated during his address. He further emphasized that traditional medicine has been an integral resource for health in India for centuries.

Kant also highlighted the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in India, which is expected to harness the potential of traditional medicine in addressing health challenges.

During the interaction, Additional Secretary of Health, Lav Agarwal, stated that the concept of integrative health or holistic health is gaining traction worldwide in approaching health challenges. He praised the partnership and coordination among G20 countries and their acceptance of the role traditional medicine plays in the health sector. The statement also noted that based on the insights shared by various experts and senior officials during the interaction, there is a strong likelihood that the health declaration will acknowledge the potential role of traditional medicine.

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Secretary of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, personally commended the leadership of the G20 engagement and working groups for their contributions to traditional medicine through recommendations and insightful deliberations. The main objective of sharing the Ayush ministry's contributions under India's G20 presidency was successfully achieved, and traditional medicine received effective attention in all health working group meetings, the statement added.

Rahul Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, welcomed the gathering and emphasized the ministry's active role in fostering dialogue around traditional medicine with various G20 engagement and working groups.

As world leaders convene for the G20 summit, the pivotal role of traditional medicine in promoting global social wellness and advancing medical knowledge, as well as developing new treatments, remains a topic of imperative consideration.