Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

PM Modi Inaugurates WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat

The centre will compile evidence and data to formulate policies, standards and regulatory frameworks for safe, cost-effective use of traditional medicines, said WHO DG Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
April 19, 2022
WHO-Global Centre

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived on a three-day visit to his home state Gujarat where he launched projects worth over ₹20,000 crore while laying foundation stone for a new international centre of traditional medicine in Jamnagar.

After landing at the Ahmedabad airport, Narendra Modi drove to the newly set up command and control centre of the State Education Department as part of reforms the State government to improve the quality of education in primary schools.

PM Narendra Modi said, “The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar aims to bring ancient wisdom and modern science together.”

Video messages from the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and President of Maldives were played on the occasion. Union Ministers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Sabananda Sonowal, Munjapara Mahendrabhai and Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel were among those present.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus termed the centre as a truly global project with 107 WHO member countries have their country-specific governmental offices. He said, traditional medicines products are abound globally and the centre will go a long way in bringing the promise of the traditional medicine to fruition.

For many regions of the world, traditional medicine is the first line of treatment. The centre’s five main areas will be research and leadership, evidence and learning, data and analytics, sustainability and equity and innovation and technology. It centre will compile evidence and data for the formulation of policies, standards and regulatory frameworks for safe, cost-effective use of traditional medicines, he added.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine that we are launching will help harness the power of science to strengthen evidence-based traditional medicine. I’m grateful to PM Modi and GoI for their leadership in supporting this important initiative.”

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth highlighted the importance of indigenous medical system and herbal products in various cultures. He also gave details of legislative recognition to Ayurveda in Mauritius since 1989. He also thanked Gujarat for providing scholarship to students from Mauritius for studying Ayurvedic medicine in Jamnagar.