New Delhi: The 18th BRICS Summit has backed a proposal to establish a BRICS Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) to strengthen cooperation among member countries in research, regulation and evidence-based healthcare.
The New Delhi Declaration recognised the potential of traditional medicine in strengthening health systems and contributing to the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The proposed expert group, under the BRICS Health Track, is expected to provide a structured platform for member countries to exchange knowledge, collaborate on research and share experience on regulatory frameworks for traditional medicine.
The declaration called for greater cooperation in research on medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for therapeutic and preventive purposes. It also highlighted the potential of traditional medicine knowledge across BRICS countries to support the development of safe, effective and affordable therapeutic products.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav said the initiative would enable member countries to share knowledge, strengthen research and advance evidence-based approaches in traditional medicine.
The proposal follows the BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine held in Chandigarh on July 21 during India’s BRICS Chairship.
Government officials, experts and representatives of BRICS member countries participated in the meeting, where discussions were held on cooperation in research, education, knowledge exchange and regulatory frameworks. The meeting also saw consensus on the Terms of Reference for the proposed expert working group.
Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said the group could provide a focused platform for strengthening research partnerships, quality assurance and regulatory systems among BRICS nations.
The New Delhi Declaration stressed that TCIM practices and products should meet appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy, in line with the national requirements of member countries.
It also called for cooperation in areas such as scientific evaluation, pharmacopoeial standards and regulatory mechanisms.
For India, the initiative could provide a stronger international platform for Ayurveda and other Ayush systems, while keeping the focus on scientific research, evidence generation, quality assurance and responsible healthcare practices.
