Integrating traditional medicine into public health systems needs rigorous evidence and regulation. Examine with reference to WHO's Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.

WHO's Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 was adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly. It sets four objectives in this order: evidence, safety and regulation, integration into health systems, and cross-sectoral value [1]. Putting evidence and regulation first shows that traditional medicine must earn its place in health systems.

Why rigorous evidence is essential

• Old texts give leads, not proof: in 1976 a Japanese formula of about 30 herbs, based on a classical Chinese text, was reported to "cure" cancer. The basis was 9 of 13 patients improving, with no comparison group [2].
• The proven route: Tu Youyou took sweet wormwood from traditional remedies, isolated one compound (artemisinin), tested it and won the 2015 Nobel Prize [3].
• Problem with multi-herb mixes: it is hard to fix doses or repeat results. Trial designs can be adapted to these systems, but the standard of proof cannot be lowered.

Why regulation is essential

• Little tracking of harm after sale: 124 WHO Member States register herbal medicines. But only 40% of responding states have patient-safety reporting that covers traditional medicine [4].
• False "cure" claims: the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 bans adverts claiming to cure cancer. Rule 170 (2018) targets misleading AYUSH adverts. Enforcement, however, rests with the states [5].
• Spotting without punishing: India's Ayush pharmacovigilance network (1 national, 5 intermediary and 99 peripheral centres) can only refer misleading adverts to state licensing authorities [6].
• Court-driven fixes: a Supreme Court order of 30 July 2024 (WP(C) 645/2022) led to the Ayush Suraksha Portal in 2025 [7].

How the Strategy and India respond

• The Strategy's objectives on evidence and on safety and regulation target exactly these gaps [1].
• India backed the Strategy and called for evidence-based integration [8]. The India-supported WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre places traditional medicine within primary health care [9].

Way forward

• States should act on flagged adverts within a fixed time, with progress shown publicly on Ayush Suraksha [7].
• Ayush research councils should use classical formulas only to find leads, then test isolated compounds through regular clinical trials [3].
• The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre should pool reports of harm from different countries [9].

Traditional medicine can widen access to affordable care, but only if it is tested and regulated. Adapting trial designs while keeping the standard of proof, as the Strategy's evidence-first approach intends, will help SDG 3's aim of safe, effective universal health coverage.