BRICS Summit Bolsters International Cooperation in Traditional Medicine
The recent 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has marked a pivotal moment for international collaboration in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). The gathered nations recognized the growing importance of TCIM in reinforcing health systems and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with a significant focus on establishing a cooperative framework among member states.
A prominent feature of the New Delhi Declaration is the endorsement of creating a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM. This initiative aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among BRICS countries, providing a structured platform for enhancing cooperation in traditional medicine.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, expressed enthusiasm over this development. He emphasized that acknowledging Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine in the declaration is a crucial step towards bolstering global partnerships in traditional medicine. The proposed Expert Working Group will serve as a valuable platform for members to exchange knowledge, promote research, and adopt evidence-based practices. India is committed to advancing Ayurveda and other traditional systems through rigorous scientific research and international collaboration, aiming to promote safe, effective, and accessible healthcare.
Echoing this sentiment, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, stated that the New Delhi Declaration represents a significant move towards structured cooperation among BRICS nations in TCIM. The Expert Working Group is expected to facilitate the sharing of evidence, bolster research collaborations, and enhance quality and regulatory standards. India’s Ayush ecosystem is poised to play a vital role in this endeavor by promoting evidence-based practices supporting quality healthcare.
The declaration emphasizes the necessity for enhanced cooperation in researching medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for therapeutic and preventive care. It acknowledges that the shared traditional pharmacopoeias among BRICS nations can help create safe and effective therapeutic products. This alignment is particularly relevant across BRICS countries, where traditional medicine has a rich historical context and herbal remedies play an integral role in healthcare.
Moreover, the emphasis on coordinated research is expected to improve documentation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote evidence generation to support the responsible development of therapeutic products. The declaration also reiterates the critical importance of ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of TCIM practices and products, urging the adoption of evidence-informed frameworks respective to each member state’s national context.
This initiative stems from a preceding BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine held in Chandigarh on July 21, 2026, under India’s BRICS chairmanship. This meeting brought together senior officials and experts who laid the groundwork for the proposed Expert Working Group, targeting cooperation in research, education, and regulatory structures.
The New Delhi Declaration not only signifies a commitment to traditional medicine but also paves the way for deeper, evidence-based international cooperation. By enhancing engagement among BRICS nations, the establishment of this Expert Working Group could potentially yield significant advancements in research, evidence generation, and standards in TCIM.
Ultimately, the groundwork laid by the New Delhi Declaration strengthens India’s position on the international stage as a leader in Ayurveda and other traditional health systems. By aligning TCIM with the BRICS Health Track and emphasizing research, quality, safety, and efficacy, the declaration sets a firm foundation for sustained collaboration aimed at creating effective and affordable healthcare solutions.
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