PM Modi, WHO chief to lay foundation for GCTM in Gujarat

Rajkot: On April 19, Gujarat will host an institution that will provide a scientific approach to traditional medicines being practised worldwide. Prime minister Narendra Modi and the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus will host the groundbreaking ceremony for the world’s first Global Centre for Traditional Medicines (GCTM) in Jamnagar, jointly set up by the Indian government and the WHO.

The Institute of Teaching and Research In Ayurveda (ITRA), an institute working under the Ayush ministry in Jamnagar, will host this centre that will come up on 35 acres of land on the airport road. It is expected to start functioning by 2024.

Addressing media persons in Jamnagar on Friday, Union Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “It’s very big news for all of us that WHO has decided to open the world’s first centre for traditional medicines in India. This is a big success for those who are connected with the traditional system of treatment. The groundbreaking ceremony of this centre will be organized in the presence of PM Modi and the director-general of WHO.”

A press release issued by the world health body on its website on March 25 reads: “The WHO and government of India signed an agreement to establish GCTM. This centre supported by an investment of $250 million from GOI aims to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern sciences and technology to improve the health of people and the planet.”

According to ITRA, the focus of this centre will be on gathering evidence and learning, data and analytics, and scientifically proving the contribution of traditional medicine to global health.

Director of ITRA, Vaidh Anup Thakar, said, “We are planning to start an interim centre as soon as possible in a temporary building of our centre and the permanent building is expected to be completed by 2024. Here, the experts of traditional medicine from across the globe will research, analyse the data and find the benefits of each traditional medicine.”

According to WHO, around 80 percent of the world’s population is estimated to use traditional medicine.

Quoting Dr Ghebreyesus, the WHO press release further stated: “For many millions of people around the world, traditional medicine is the first port of call to treat many diseases. Ensuring all people have access to safe and effective treatment is an essential part of WHO’s mission, and this new centre will help to harness the power of science to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine.”