WHO Centre Will Help Strengthen Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine, Says WHO Chief Ghebreyesus

The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, the first of its kind in the world, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jamnagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: WHO Chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Gujarat's Jamnagar would help in harnessing the "power of science to strengthen evidence-based traditional medicine," news agency ANI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth laid the foundation stone for the centre at Jamnagar in Gujarat, the first of its kind in the world.

Greeting the public in Gujarati, Ghebreyesus expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for the $250 million investment to establish the centre.

"I thank PM Modi for USD 250 million investment to establish the centre with an interim office and a 10-year commitment for operating costs. From the day I spoke to PM Modi, his commitment was amazing and I knew that this centre will be in good hands," Ghebreyesus said.

The WHO chief asserted that the centre was "a truly global project". "India will go the world and the whole world will come to India," he further said.

Ghebreyesus also said that the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was not a coincidence and went on to speak about his Indian connection.

"My Indian teachers taught me well about traditional medicines and I am very grateful. I also grew up watching 'Bollywood' films and I understand that the Swiss Alps are a favourite destination for 'Bollywood' fans," he said.

The Centre aims to channel the potential of traditional medicine by integrating it with technological advancements and evidence-based research. 

While Jamnagar will serve as the base, the new Centre aims to engage and benefit the world. 

The GCTM will focus on four main strategic areas: evidence and learning; data and analytics; sustainability and equity; and innovation and technology to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health.