The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit has given a significant push to international cooperation in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), recognising its potential role in strengthening health systems and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
A key outcome is the welcome accorded to the proposed establishment of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the BRICS Health Track. The proposed group is expected to provide a structured platform for dialogue, research collaboration, knowledge exchange and regulatory cooperation among BRICS countries.
Focus on evidence and research
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, said the recognition of TCIM in the Declaration was an important step towards strengthening global cooperation in traditional medicine.
“The proposed BRICS Expert Working Group will provide a meaningful platform for Member States to share knowledge, strengthen research and advance evidence-based approaches,” he said, adding that India remains committed to advancing Ayurveda and other traditional systems through scientific research, quality assurance and international collaboration.
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, said the proposed working group could strengthen research collaboration and improve quality and regulatory approaches among BRICS countries.
Medicinal plants get greater attention
The Declaration calls for greater cooperation in research on medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for therapeutic and preventive purposes. It also recognises the shared traditional pharmacopoeias of BRICS countries as a potential foundation for developing safe, effective and affordable therapeutic products.
The emphasis could create opportunities for joint research, documentation of traditional knowledge and evidence generation around medicinal resources. It could also support the development of quality-assured herbal and traditional medicine products.
The Declaration simultaneously stresses quality, safety and efficacy of TCIM practices and products through evidence-informed approaches and regulatory frameworks suited to the national contexts of member countries.
This could encourage BRICS nations to exchange expertise in research methodologies, pharmacopoeial standards, quality assurance, regulatory practices and scientific validation.
India pushes institutional cooperation
The development follows the BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine held in Chandigarh on July 21, 2026, under India’s BRICS Chairship. The meeting brought together government officials, technical experts and delegates from BRICS countries and advanced cooperation in research, education, knowledge exchange and regulatory frameworks.
The meeting also resulted in consensus on the Terms of Reference for the proposed Expert Working Group.
For India, the initiative strengthens the international platform for Ayurveda and the wider Ayush ecosystem. It could provide greater opportunities for Indian research institutions, academic bodies and industry to collaborate with counterparts across BRICS.
A wider global health opportunity
The focus on TCIM comes amid growing international attention to the appropriate role of traditional medicine in healthcare. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 emphasises strengthening evidence, safety and quality while supporting appropriate integration of traditional medicine into health systems.
Against this backdrop, the New Delhi Declaration goes beyond recognising traditional medicine. By placing TCIM within the BRICS Health Track and linking cooperation to UHC, research, evidence, quality, safety and efficacy, it provides a framework for sustained collaboration.
For India, the proposed working group could further strengthen efforts to position Ayurveda and other traditional systems within global discussions on evidence-based healthcare, preventive medicine and resilient health systems.