GLOBAL CENTRE FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

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• Recently, the groundbreaking ceremony was performed for the first-of-its-kind World Health Organization (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• Additionally, the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit will be held later this month in Gandhinagar which is aimed at increasing investments and showcase innovations in the field of traditional medicine.
• It is a unique attempt to foster long-lasting partnerships, boost exports and nurture a sustainable ecosystem.

Purpose for establishing GCTM

• The Centre aims to channel the potential of traditional medicine, by integrating it with technological advancements and evidence-based research.
• It will seek to set policies and standards on traditional medicine products and help countries create a comprehensive, safe, and high-quality health system.
• It will support efforts to implement the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014-23).
• It aims to support nations in developing policies & action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine in pursuing the goal of universal health coverage.
• According to WHO estimates, 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine.
• India has committed an estimated USD 250 million to support the GCTM’s establishment, infrastructure and operations.

Focus on four main strategic areas:

1. Evidence and learning
2. Data and analytics
3. Sustainability and equity and
4. Innovation and technology to optimise the contribution of traditional medicine to global health.

Traditional Medicine

1. According to the WHO, traditional medicine is the total sum of the “knowledge, skills and practises indigenous and different cultures have used over time to maintain health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness”.
2. Its reach encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures as well as modern medicines.

Traditional Medicine in India:

• In India, it is often defined as including practices and therapies — such as yoga, Ayurveda Siddha.
• These therapies and practices have been part of Indian tradition historically as well as others — such as homoeopathy — that became part of Indian tradition over the years.
• Ayurveda and yoga are practised widely across the country.
• The Siddha system is followed predominantly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
• The Sowa-Rigpa system is practised mainly in Leh-Ladakh and Himalayan regions such as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Lahaul & Spiti.
• At least 32 MoUs for undertaking collaborative research and development of traditional medicine have been signed with institutes, universities and organisations from the US, Germany, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Brazil, Australia, Austria, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Japan, Indonesia, Reunion Island, Korea and Hungary.
• Also, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have signed an MoU to identify opportunities for scientific and technological research between researchers within and outside India, including collaborations with foundation-funded entities in the areas including traditional medicine as well as beyond.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT