The 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh concluded with historic political recognition for integrative healthcare, formally adopting the BRICS traditional medicine declaration. According to reporting by the World Health Organization, member nations endorsed creating a dedicated expert working group on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). Consequently, this initiative establishes structured frameworks for multi-country research, clinical validation, and digital knowledge exchange across emerging economies.
Collaborative Research and Evidence Generation
Member states committed to evaluating safety protocols, toxicity standards, and clinical trial registries under international guidelines. Furthermore, governments are encouraging researchers to register clinical trials within WHO-recognized registries to ensure global scientific transparency.
“Integrating traditional healthcare knowledge systems with modern scientific methodologies strengthens comprehensive health coverage across developing nations,” emphasized regional health delegates.
Specifically, the declaration outlines multi-country studies to document best practices and standardize quality controls for herbal treatments.
Digital Knowledge Platforms and Global Alignment
Additionally, the agreement highlights digital innovation by linking national knowledge repositories with emerging technology systems. In fact, member countries pledged cooperation on applying artificial intelligence to TCIM research and medical delivery.
Therefore, aligning BRICS initiatives with the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 reinforces evidence-based global standards. Moving forward, coordinated expert exchanges will ensure traditional health practices safely complement modern healthcare infrastructure.
World Health Organization. (2026, July 27). BRICS elevates traditional medicine with landmark declaration and new expert working group. WHO Departmental Updates. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-07-2026-brics-elevates-traditional-medicine-with-landmark-declaration-and-new-expert-working-group