In a landmark move for global healthcare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the world’s largest digital repository for traditional medicine, putting systems like Ayurveda and Yoga on a unified, evidence-based global map.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library on Friday (19 December) during the closing ceremony of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The digital platform, which hosts over 1.6 million scientific records from 194 countries, aims to shift traditional healing from fragmented, region-specific knowledge to a shared, evidence-based global resource.
The library is a major deliverable from India’s G20 Presidency and is designed to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science. It gives researchers, policymakers, and clinicians a structured repository of peer-reviewed research, policy documents, and classical manuscripts.
Key features of the initiative include:
- Thematic Collections: Specialized sections on integrative oncology, pediatrics, and traditional midwifery.
- Global Access: Integrated with Research4Life, the platform offers free and permanent access to institutions in low- and middle-income countries.
- Ayush Mark: Alongside the library, the PM launched the ‘Ayush Mark,’ a new quality benchmark meant to become a global standard for traditional medicine products and services.
- Integrative Care: A new collaboration was announced with the WHO to strengthen integrative cancer care in India, combining traditional systems with modern treatments.
“This library will become a global lighthouse for traditional health wisdom… Restoring balance is not just a global cause but a global urgency,” Prime Minister Modi said, pointing out that lifestyle imbalances are driving a surge in non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the move, saying, “The TMGL is far more than a repository; it is a platform of trust that will protect intellectual property and community rights while supporting equitable access.”
The summit coincided with the announcement that the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the first and only global outpost for traditional medicine, is on track for full completion by October 2026. This institutional strengthening comes as WHO data shows that up to 90% of populations in member states rely on traditional medicine, yet it receives less than 1% of global research funding.
With the library now live, the focus shifts to implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. The summit wrapped up with the “Delhi Declaration,” a common roadmap for international cooperation on safety standards, training, and the scientific validation of traditional practices.
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