The centre is being set up to develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and methodologies, for collecting data undertaking analytics, and assess impact in the area of traditional medicine.
A host country agreement has been signed between the Government of India and the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish a WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The WHO GCTM will be established under the ministry of AYUSH. This would be the first and only global outposted centre for traditional medicine.
The centre is being set up to develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and methodologies, for collecting data undertaking analytics, and assess impact in the area of traditional medicine. It envisages a WHO traditional medicine informatics centre by creating a collaboration of existing data banks of traditional medicines, virtual libraries, and academic and research institutes.
It will also engage in developing specific capacity building and training programmes in the areas of relevance to the objectives and conduct training programmes in campus, residential (or web-based), and through partnerships with the WHO Academy and other strategic partners.
While the centre will help position AYUSH systems across the globe and provide leadership on global health matters pertaining to traditional medicine, it will also ensure quality, safety and efficacy, accessibility and rational use of traditional medicine.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghbereyesus announced the establishment of WHO GCTM in India on 13 November 2020 as a centre of global wellness that will bolster evidence-based research, training and awareness for traditional medicine.
Leadership on traditional medicine
A joint task force has been constituted for coordination, execution and monitoring of activities for the establishment of this centre. The task force comprises representatives from the India and WHO. To begin with, an interim office will be established at Jamnagar to execute the identified technical activities and planning of fully functional WHO GCTM.
The interim office is intended to generate evidence and innovation, artificial intelligence based solutions for traditional medicine, systematic reviews in collaborations and delve into socio-cultural and biodiversity heritage.
The WHO GCTM would provide leadership on all global health matters related to traditional medicine as well as extend support to member countries in shaping various policies related to traditional medicine research, practices and public health.
The ministry of AYUSH has collaborated with WHO on many fronts including developing benchmarks documents on training and practice of ayurveda and unani systems, developing apps like M-yoga and will support the work of the international pharmacopeia of herbal medicine.
The WHO-GCTM will identify various challenges faced by the countries in regulating, integrating and further positioning traditional medicine in respective countries. Traditional medicine is a key pillar of health care delivery systems and plays a crucial role in maintaining good health and well-being. Safe and effective traditional medicine will play a significant role in ensuring all people have access to quality essential health care services and safe, effective and affordable essential medicines as the world approach the 10-year milestone for Sustainable Development Goals in 2030.
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