FOLLOWING the decision by the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a fortnight ago, about the approval of the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) at Jamnagar in Gujarat, the Government of India has expedited the establishment of the Centre by signing the Host Country Agreement with World Health Organisation (WHO) for establishing this WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India. The Agreement was signed on Friday, 25th March in Geneva by the Secretary of Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha and Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his message for the historic event said, it is heartening to learn about the signing of agreement for the establishment of Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.

 

Saying that through various initiatives, our government has been tireless in its endeavour to make preventive and curative healthcare, affordable and accessible to all, the PM said that the global centre at Jamnagar will help in providing the best healthcare solutions to the world. Groundbreaking ceremony will take place on April 21, 2022 in the august presence of Prime Minister Modi. On this occasion the Minister of Ayush Sarbanand Sonowal said that his Ministry has got this pride due to the initiative and efforts of our illustrious Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He further said that the centre will bring far-reaching benefits and reputation to traditional medicine systems around the world. He also said that this initiative will go a long way in helping the whole of humanity to get affordable and reliable health services.

 

He informed that the Centre will bring availability of better systems to connect with the latest scientific methods. Highlighting the importance of the Government of India initiative, the Director-General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that harnessing the potential of traditional medicine by drawing on modern science and principles of equity and sustainability will be a game changer for health in the 21st century. The Centre would have its interim office at the Institute of Training and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Gujarat. This Centre will be supported by an investment of about USD 250 million from the Government of India. The primary objective of GCTM is to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology and improve overall health of the communities’ world over.