WHO Unveils Gujarat Declaration

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled the “Gujarat Declaration,” the outcome document of the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023. India, as the host of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, plays a pivotal role in advancing the summit’s action agenda.

The declaration outlines measures to integrate TCIM into national health systems, promote standardized documentation, and establish a global network of TCIM reference clinical centers. It also highlights the role of digital health technologies and emphasizes the importance of biodiversity conservation and the rights of indigenous peoples in TCIM.

Significance of Gujarat Declaration

The declaration reaffirms global commitments to indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM). It emphasizes the need for rigorous scientific methods to understand, assess, and apply holistic and context-specific approaches to health and well-being. It highlights India’s role in advancing these commitments as the host of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre.

Topics Covered

The summit addressed topics such as planetary and human health, research, universal health coverage, data and digital health, biodiversity, ethics, and human rights. It provided a platform to discuss and integrate traditional medicine into global health strategies.

Promotion of evidence-based traditional medicine interventions

The declaration calls for evidence-based TCIM interventions to support universal health coverage and sustainable development goals. It emphasizes standardized documentation and the establishment of TCIM reference clinical centers.

Incorporation of digital health technologies and AI in traditional medicine

The declaration highlights the importance of using digital health technologies, particularly AI, to advance TCIM resources for people’s health and well-being, emphasizing their role in modernizing traditional medicine practices.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2023

Category: International / World Current Affairs