Gujarat Declarations

Why in news?

• The first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document of the summit in form of “Gujarat Declaration’.

About WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit:

• The Summit is organized by World Health Organization (WHO) and co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush.
• It aims to bring together various stakeholders, such as traditional medicine practitioners, policymakers, academics, and others on a common platform to share best practices, evidence and innovation related to how traditional medicine contributes to health and sustainable development.

 WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine:

• In 2022, WHO with the support of the Government of India established the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• The centre provides leadership on all global health matters related to traditional medicine as well as extending support to member countries in shaping various policies related to traditional medicine research, practices and public health.
• It is the first and only global outpost for traditional medicine across the globe.

Gujarat Declarations:

• Gujarat declaration reaffirmed global commitments towards indigenous knowledges, biodiversity and traditional, complementary and integrative medicine.
• The key action points outlined in the declaration are:
• Health and Well-being:
  • Scale up evidence-based traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) for universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals. Use science and technology to validate TCIM’s contribution to health and well-being.
• Global Health Leadership:
  • Expand multi-regional collaborations through the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre and Respect Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge on health.
• Research and Evidence: 
  • Mobilize research funding for TCIM and strengthen research capabilities.
• Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems: 
  • Integrate TCIM into national health systems and adapt laws and policies for TCIM safety and accessibility.
• Digital Health and AI:
  • Develop digital health resources, including AI, for TCIM.
• Biodiversity and Sustainability: 
  • Support UN biodiversity agreements and Indigenous Peoples’ involvement.
• Human Rights, Equity, and Ethics: 
  • Recognize and protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and knowledge.Incorporate ethical practices in TCIM.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

With reference to World Health Organization, the ‘Gujarat Declaration’ of 2023 is largely associated with:

(a) Pandemic treaty

(b) Traditional medicine

(c) Safe clinical trials

(d) Vaccine development

Answer