Healing the future: Traditional medicine drives innovation, equity and planetary health at WHA79
Traditional medicine (TM) was highlighted as a critical lever for global health transformation at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79), with a series of high-level convenings exploring its growing role in advancing equity, sustainability and innovation.Three flagship events convened by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre focused on how financing and innovation, protection of biodiversity and youth leadership can support the goals of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, including strengthening the evidence base for TM; supporting regulation fof TM or safe and effective use; integration of TM in primary health care; and strengthening collaboration across sectors.Driving innovation, investment and partnershipsSpeakers at the TM Innovation event, along the sidelines of WHA79, in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19 May 2026©WHOAt a session on "Traditional Medicine Innovation for Health Impact: Financing, Collaboration, and Future Pathways", on 19 May 2026, leaders from WHO, governments, regulatory bodies and the private sector explored how to scale traditional medicine through strategic investment and cross-sector collaboration.Addressing participants, WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr Sylvie Briand, noted the 'growing recognition of traditional medicine as an important contributor to global health and well-being'.She explained how WHO is supporting countries in strengthening the scientific rigour and evidence base for traditional medicine while also respecting the holistic and person-centric approach of traditional medicine systems."Ultimately, the goal is not simply to preserve traditional medicine but to responsibly advance its contribution to better health and well-being for future generations while leveraging new technologies", she said.This was followed by an address by Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director (a.i.), WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, who hailed the 'unique moment' for action fostered by the 10-year Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine, adopted one year ago at the 78th World Health Assembly."With 90% of countries reporting the use of traditional medicine by 40–90% of their populations, this is not some niche. In fact, you could say it is the world's predominant healthcare system, either by primary access or preferred choice."However, despite the huge need and demand, Dr Kuruvilla noted that less than one per cent of global health research funding goes to traditional medicine.In a panel discussion that followed, investors advocated for blended finance models combining venture capital, philanthropic grants and government support to help navigate costly clinical validations and fragmented regulatory hurdles. Risk mitigation through broad portfolio diversification across multiple countries was also highlighted to attract private capital.Opportunities and priorities for AI and TMThe rapidly expanding influence of AI in reshaping global health, including TM, was highlighted frequently during WHA79, including during an official side event on 20 May, led by the Government of India together with Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and others. The requirement for building robust data and governance systems was emphasized in relation to leveraging the potential and mitigating the risks of AI in relation to public health. Dr Shyama Kuruvilla of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre highlighted the transformative impact of AI on traditional medicine related to the goals of the Global Strategy, and called on all stakeholders to strengthen global collaboration in the context of protecting and preserving traditional knowledge, biodiversity and the rights of communities.Connecting traditional medicine to planetary healthThe panel and in-person attendees at the TM and biodiversity event, where close to 100 people watched online©WHOOn 21 May 2026, the side event "Traditional Medicine at the Nexus of Climate, Biodiversity, and Land Restoration" continued this discussion. The event positioned TM as essential to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.The session underlined that the stability of ecological systems and overall biodiversity is essential to safeguarding human health in myriad ways – from food and water security through to protection from emerging infectious diseases and mental well-being."Without biodiversity, we would have no medicinal plants; it is the starting point", said Cristina Romanelli, consultant to the WHO Global Traditinal Medicine Centre and health and environment expert. "All of the concurrent pressures our ecosystems are facing mean that we are losing the precious species that we ultimately rely on – not only for traditional medicine but also for biomedicine discovery."She also acknowledged Indigenous Peoples as the 'most important stewards of biodiversity globally' and hailed the upcoming WHO Framework on Respectful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples on Biodiversity, Health, and Traditional Knowledge Systems as a 'true product of co-creation'.Ayurvedic medicine student Gokul Rajendran of India, co-founder of the Global Indigenous Traditional Medicine Alliance (GITMA), described medicinal plants as the 'clinics of the forest' – highlighting how their potency and very existence are threatened by climate change and biodiversity loss. He also emphasized that true restoration of resilient ecosystems requires a highly complex web of biodiversity, including medicinal plants.The session reinforced TM as a cornerstone of Planetary Health and One Health approaches, aligning strongly with the strategy’s pillar on safe regulation and integration, while also advancing evidence generation on the links between ecosystems and health.Elevating youth leadership and equityDr Sungchol Kim (l), Unit Head at WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, together with young speakers at the TM and youth leadership event on 21 May 2026©WHOIn the evening, the side event "Youth Leadership to Advance Traditional Medicine for Equity and Access" placed young leaders at the forefront of shaping the future of TM. Organized with global partners and civil society coalitions, the session highlighted youth as innovators, knowledge stewards and advocates bridging traditional knowledge with modern science.Participants, including young leaders from the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation, EUROCAM/IVAA, and the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, called for increased recognition of the pivotal role of young people in culturally grounded health practice, policymaking, and communication, including to combat digital mis/disinformation relating to the science and practice of TM. Panelists highlighted the need for traditional medicine training in professional training curricula to better support health system integration, and how the meaningful engagement of young people in policy dialogue is both a right and a benefit, helping to strengthen recognition of the inherent links between health, climate and biodiversity agendas.Policymakers participating on the panel, incuding Hon. Mamokete Ntsekhe, Minister of Health of Lesotho, and Dr Evelyn Abayaah-Issah, Administrative Secretary of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, Ministry of Health, Ghana, championed the call made by the youth leaders, noting the “disability” that results from youth 'invisibility' in national processes and structures, and committed their institutions to continued leadership for change.Advancing the Global Strategy: From dialogue to actionTogether, these four events illustrate a shared global commitment to positioning traditional medicine not as an alternative, but as an integral component of resilient, inclusive and sustainable health systems – something Dr Briand emphasized in her address on 19 May."Traditional medicine should neither be dismissed nor accepted uncritically. Like all areas of healthcare, it requires rigorous research, appropriate regulation, quality assurance and continuous evaluation. In the near future, when different streams of knowledge about health and medicine converge, we will likely have one name for the way we approach health that encompasses traditional medicine."