Lok Sabha Question No. 2774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: WHO-GCTM
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Jugal Kishore Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Geeta Kora, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2774 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17/03/2023

## WHO-GCTM

2774. SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA: SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH: SHRIMATI GEETA KORA: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the MINISTER OF AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a)    the  manner  in  which  WHO-Global  Centre  forTraditional  Medicine  (GCTM)  would expand its workin the form of a global health centre;
- (b) the manner in which it would promote development of medicines and research associated with traditional medicines; and

(c) the manner in which it would strengthen evidence based research, training and awareness about traditional medicines under it?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFAYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)  to  (c)  The  WHO-GCTM will provide leadership  on  global  health  matters  pertaining  to traditional medicine which will be helpful for shaping the health research agenda and public health  strategies,  setting  international  norms  and  standards,  providing  technical  support  to countries, and monitoring & assessing health trends and protection of traditional knowledge among the Member States. It will help to establish strong linkages among the Member States of WHO. The WHO-GCTM would emerge as a centre of global wellness which will promote the  development  of  medicines  and  research  related  to  Traditional  medicine  and  will strengthen evidence-based research, training and awareness about Traditional Medicine.The scope of work of WHO-GCTM is as follows:

- i. To act as a mentor for the development and shaping health research agenda, setting  international  norms  and  standards,  providing  technical  support  to countries, and monitoring & assessing health trends of traditional medicine.
- ii. To  establish  research  methodology  standards  and  develop  standards  for clinical practice and protocols in traditional medicine.
- iii. To  ensure  quality,  safety  and  efficacy,  accessibility  and  rational  use  of traditional medicine.
- iv. To develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and  methodologies  for  collecting  data,  undertaking  analytics  and  assessing impact.
- v. To build partnerships and collaborations within WHO, and special programs (IARC, WHO Academy, TDR, Alliance for Health Policy Research, Special program on PHC), other UN agencies, WHO collaborative centre networks, international organizations and professional associations, and objectivespecific advocacy groups, in areas of relevance to the objectives.
- vi. To develop specific  capacity  building  and  training  programs  in  the  areas  of relevance to the objectives and conduct training  programs  in  campus, residential, or web-based, and through partnerships with the WHO Academy and other strategic partners.
- vii. To act as a guiding principle in developing guidelines for health technology assessment  and  health  economics  inferred  from  traditional  medicine  and support countries' evolving strategies on this.

********