Guwahati: Union Ayush ministry has recently signed the host country
agreement with World Health Organization for establishing WHO Global
Centre for Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar of Gujarat. This unique
centre, presently scheduled to function from the campus of Ayurveda
institute of training & research in western India, will be supported
by an investment of around USD 250 million from the Union government in New Delhi.
“The primary objective of GCTM is to harness the potential of
traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and
technology and to improve overall health of the communities’
worldwide,” said Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal terming it as an
outstanding achievement of the people of India. Sonowal, also in
charge of Union ports, shipping & waterways ministry, lauded Prime
Minister Narendra Modi for his untiring effort towards establishment
of the global centre.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place on 21 April
2022 in the presence of PM Modi. The agreement was signed on 25 March last in the Swish city of Geneva by WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Ayush ministry’s secretary Vaidya Rajesh
Kotecha. Earlier, the Union cabinet approved the establishment
of the centre, which is designed to engage and benefit all the regions
in the world.
“It is heartening to learn about the signing agreement for the
establishment of GCTM. Through various initiatives, our government has
been tireless in its endeavour to make preventive and curative
healthcare, affordable and accessible to all. The Jamnagar global
centre will help in providing the best healthcare solutions to the
world,” said Modi in his message.
Highlighting the importance of New Delhi’s initiative, WHO director
general Dr Tedros commented that harnessing the potential of
traditional medicine by drawing on modern science and principles of
equity and sustainability will be a game changer for health in the
21st century. GCTM will be the first and only global centre (office)
for traditional medicine across the world, he added.
The centre will focus on building a solid evidence base for policies
and standards on traditional medicine practices and products and help
countries integrate it as appropriate into their health systems and
regulate its quality and safety for optimal and sustainable impact. It
is expected to bring far-reaching benefits and reputation to
traditional medicine systems around the world. Moreover, the
initiative would go a long way in helping the whole of humanity to get
affordable and reliable health services.
Traditional medicine is a key pillar of health care delivery systems
and it plays a crucial role in maintaining good health and well-being
not only in India, but across the world. Indian people continue
adopting and promoting various traditional medicinal practices like
Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Sowa
Rigpa, etc. In recent years, traditional medicine therapies have seen
a major transformation as usage of artificial intelligence and
technological innovations has made it more accessible to masses.
WHO global centre coming up in Gujarat
