BRICS Leaders Adopt Declaration on Health Cooperation and Traditional Medicine

The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit has given a major push to international cooperation in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), with BRICS leaders welcoming the proposed establishment of an Expert Working Group on the subject under the BRICS Health Track. The proposed working group is expected to provide a structured platform for BRICS member countries to exchange knowledge, strengthen research cooperation and advance evidence-based approaches to traditional medicine. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said the recognition of TCIM in the declaration was an important step towards strengthening global cooperation in traditional medicine. He said the proposed expert group would provide BRICS member states with a platform to share knowledge, strengthen research and advance evidence-based approaches. Jadhav said India remains committed to advancing Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine through scientific research, quality assurance and international collaboration so that their potential can contribute to safe, effective and affordable healthcare. Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, said the declaration marked an important step towards structured cooperation among BRICS countries in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. He said the proposed expert group could facilitate cooperation in sharing evidence, strengthening research, and improving quality and regulatory approaches. The declaration calls for greater cooperation in research on medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for therapeutic and preventive purposes. It also recognises the traditional pharmacopoeias of BRICS countries as a potential foundation for developing safe, effective and affordable therapeutic products. The focus on coordinated research is significant as traditional systems of medicine have evolved over generations across several BRICS countries, with medicinal plants and herbal preparations forming an important component of healthcare traditions. Greater cooperation could facilitate documentation, knowledge exchange and evidence generation, while supporting the responsible development of therapeutic products. The declaration also reaffirms the importance of ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of TCIM practices and products through evidence-informed approaches and appropriate regulatory frameworks, in accordance with the national contexts of member countries. This could provide scope for BRICS countries to exchange expertise in research methodologies, pharmacopoeial standards, quality assurance, regulatory practices and scientific validation of traditional medicine practices and products. The development follows the BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, held in Chandigarh on July 21 under India’s BRICS chairship. The meeting brought together senior government officials, technical experts and delegates from BRICS countries to discuss cooperation in research, education, knowledge exchange and regulatory frameworks related to TCIM. The meeting also reached consensus on the Terms of Reference for the proposed BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM. The proposed group is expected to further institutionalise cooperation and facilitate sustained engagement among research institutions, experts, policymakers and academic institutions across BRICS countries. For India, the initiative is significant as it supports efforts to advance Ayurveda and other Ayush systems through research, evidence generation, quality assurance and international cooperation. The declaration’s focus on medicinal plants and herbal preparations also creates opportunities for deeper scientific and technical collaboration among BRICS countries. Coordinated research could contribute to improved documentation and scientific understanding of medicinal resources, strengthen pharmacopoeial knowledge and support the development of quality-assured therapeutic products. The initiative comes amid growing international attention to the role of traditional medicine in health systems. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 emphasises strengthening the evidence base, ensuring safety and quality, and supporting the appropriate integration of traditional medicine into health systems. The New Delhi Declaration’s focus on TCIM therefore goes beyond recognition of traditional medicine and places emphasis on evidence-based international cooperation. The proposed Expert Working Group could bring together the diverse experience of BRICS countries in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine and promote cooperation in research, evidence generation, capacity building, knowledge exchange and regulatory approaches. The initiative is expected to provide a more structured framework for traditional medicine cooperation among BRICS members, bringing together traditional knowledge, scientific research, medicinal plant resources, pharmacopoeial expertise and regulatory experience. For India, the outcome further strengthens the international platform for Ayurveda and the wider Ayush ecosystem to contribute to global discussions on evidence-based traditional medicine, preventive healthcare and resilient health systems. By placing TCIM within the BRICS Health Track and linking cooperation with universal health coverage, research, evidence, quality, safety and efficacy, the New Delhi Declaration provides a foundation for sustained collaboration towards safe, effective and affordable healthcare solutions.