India Pledges $85 Million to WHO Traditional Medicine Centre in Gujarat

The Ayush Ministry and WHO have agreed on a $85 million donation from India over 10 years to support the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Gujarat. The agreement aims to develop traditional medicine practices, with activities such as capacity-building and training programs to advance global health.

The Ayush Ministry and the World Health Organization have solidified a donor agreement under which India will contribute USD 85 million over 10 years to facilitate the operations of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

A ceremony at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on July 31 marked the signing of this crucial agreement. Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India to the UN in Geneva, and Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage, represented Ayush and WHO respectively. Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha attended the event virtually.

This landmark agreement endeavors to establish the WHO GTMC as a pioneering knowledge hub for Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). Operating an interim office, the Centre already engages in capacity-building programs and collaborates with strategic partners to elevate traditional medicine on a global scale.

(With inputs from agencies.)