The Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine has grown to 36 member states, with discussions on research, regulation, protection of traditional knowledge and international collaboration.
Geneva, Switzerland | 16 October 2026
There is growing international cooperation on traditional medicine, the World Health Organization (WHO) said after a meeting of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine in Geneva. Discussions centred on the implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, strengthening national frameworks and exploring ways to promote responsible and sustainable traditional medicine practices.
WHO said in an update published on 16 October 2026 that representatives of member states, traditional medicine communities and international partners had gathered at the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva on 23 September to celebrate Ayurveda Day 2026. The programme was organised alongside the eighth meeting of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine.
Group Adds Four New Member Countries
The meeting was chaired by Arindam Bagchi, India’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. Egypt, Kazakhstan, Nepal and Suriname joined the group, raising its membership to 36 countries.
Participants discussed priorities for advancing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025. Topics included strengthening legal and regulatory structures, eliminating barriers to the export of traditional medicine products, protecting intellectual property rights, and safeguarding the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Representatives also cited examples of cross-ministerial cooperation to support medical tourism and establish national centres of excellence in traditional medicine. The group stated that it supported WHO’s continued focus on traditional medicine after the election of a new Director-General in 2027.
Thailand to Hold Third WHO Global Summit in 2027
The meeting also looked ahead to the third WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, to be held in Thailand in November 2027.
The Thai ambassador, Usana Berananda, shared her country’s vision for the summit, which will be held after the second summit hosted by India in 2025. Thailand wants to build on past international commitments and encourage countries towards practical implementation.
The proposed vision is based on three themes: wisdom, well-being and prosperity. T
