In a significant stride toward globalizing India’s traditional medical knowledge systems, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush and the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), successfully convened a two-day WHO External Expert Group Meeting on July 24–25, 2025.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, in his keynote address, emphasized the need for robust, globally harmonized training standards in Siddha. He reiterated India's commitment to promoting evidence-based practices in traditional medicine.

Ms. Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, highlighted Siddha’s scientific relevance and rich cultural legacy, noting its growing global resonance. In her opening remarks, she underlined the importance of structured, evidence-based training to enhance international recognition of Siddha. She affirmed that Siddha is not just a Traditional Medical System, but a living tradition with deep cultural background, still with scientific relevance.

Dr. Kim Sungchol, Head, TCI Unit, WHO, commended India's leadership in traditional medicine and underscored WHO’s vision to integrate Siddha within national healthcare systems, with full respect for its traditional roots. He also acknowledged the crucial technical and financial support extended by the Ministry of Ayush for the drafting of evidence-based documents.

Held in hybrid mode, the meeting focused on finalizing the Draft WHO Technical Reports on Training and Practice in Siddha, drawing participation from 16 international experts across 11 countries representing all six WHO regions. The sessions were facilitated by the WHO’s Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCI) Unit with support from the Government of India. The deliberations mark a landmark milestone in aligning Siddha with globally accepted frameworks, while ensuring preservation of its unique indigenous identity. Experts from Sri Lanka, Japan, Malaysia, USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, UAE, Singapore, Canada, and Australia shared region-specific inputs, enriching the quality and applicability of the final draft documents.

The successful culmination of the expert review process represents a major step toward global acceptance of Siddha. The finalized reports will support Member States in adopting high-quality Siddha education and clinical standards, helping elevate Siddha as a credible part of global healthcare solutions. This event reflects India’s growing leadership in the WHO Traditional Medicine strategy and strengthens the country's position as a global knowledge hub for Ayush systems.

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MV/AKS/SG

(Release ID: 2148603)