Lok Sabha Question No. 3554 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Global Traditional Medicine Centre
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3554 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## Global Traditional Medicine Centre

## 3554 Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

(a) whether the collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has strengthened global recognition of traditional medicine systems;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar will serve as a key knowledge hub for evidence-based Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) on a global scale; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a)&(b) Yes Madam. The collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has strengthened global recognition of traditional medicine systems. The collaboration  would  provide  leadership  on  the  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. In  this  connection  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  taken  initiative  for  World  Health Organization's (WHO's) Collaborative Centre for Traditional Medicines at Institute of  Teaching  and  Research  in  Ayurveda  (ITRA),  Jamnagar  and  Morarji  Desai

National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi, and National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad, a unit under Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), New Delhi. Deputation of an Ayush Expert on secondment basis at P-5 level at WHO Hq. Geneva and Technical Officer at P-4 level at WHO's South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO) has been done. The Ministry  of  Ayush  has  signed  3  Project  Collaboration  Agreements  (PCAs)  with WHO since 2016 as a commitment towards promotion and propagation of scientific Traditional  systems  of  healthcare  enhancing  its  quality  and  safety,  and  fostering international collaboration in this field. A Donor Agreement between the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India and the WHO has been signed on 31.07.2024.

(c)&(d) The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar would  emerge  as  a  Centre  of  global  wellness,  bolster  evidence-based  research, training and awareness for Traditional Medicine. It will serve as a key knowledge hub  for  evidence-based  Traditional,  Complementary  and  Integrative  Medicine (TCIM) on a global scale. This is the first and only global out posted Centre (Office) for traditional medicine across the world with the following key objectives:

- To position Ayush systems across the globe.
- To  provide  leadership  on  global  health  matters  pertaining  to  traditional medicine.
- To  ensure  quality,  safety  and  efficacy,  accessibility  and  rational  use  of traditional medicine.
- To develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and  methodologies,  for  collecting  data  undertaking  analytics,  and  assess impact.  Envisage  WHO  Traditional  Medicine  (TM)  Informatics  Centre creating a collaborative of existing Traditional Medicine (TM) Data Banks, virtual libraries, and academic and research institutes.
- To develop 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.

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