WHO Launches Decade-Long Strategy to Integrate Traditional Medicine into Mainstream Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a decade-long global strategy aiming to harness traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) within mainstream healthcare. The initiative focuses on building a robust evidence base, regulating treatments and practitioners, and integrating traditional medicine where appropriate.
Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, head of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, highlighted the potential of centuries-old practices, which can now be studied using modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, genomics, and brain imaging to establish scientific evidence.
In support of this strategy, Thailand’s health ministry recommended in May 2025 that doctors switch from some biomedicines to traditional remedies for conditions including muscle pain and constipation. Researchers there are conducting randomized trials to evaluate herbal treatments for inclusion on the essential medicines list.
The WHO acknowledges concerns that the strategy might risk the incorporation of unscientific systems like homeopathy. It clarified that homeopathy is not considered traditional medicine by WHO and currently lacks robust evidence. Any decisions to integrate treatments will be strictly based on robust evidence of safety and efficacy.
Despite the absence of integration in many formal health systems and the predominance of out-of-pocket payments with weaker quality checks, traditional medicine services remain highly popular amid a booming trillion-dollar wellness industry.
To support this integration effort, WHO launched a new strategic technical advisory group at the global summit in New Delhi. This body aims to bridge traditional medicine and biomedicine with a key focus on patient safety and strong evidence standards.
