The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has agreed to establish a BRICS Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). The move is significant as it aims to strengthen international cooperation in TCIM and contribute towards Universal Health Coverage.
On September 13, 2026, the Press Information Bureau announced that the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit has given a significant push to international cooperation in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). The key outcome of the declaration is the proposed establishment of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the BRICS Health Track. This working group is envisioned as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and exchange among BRICS Member States, providing a structured mechanism for advancing cooperation in traditional medicine.
The importance of this recognition of TCIM was highlighted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav. He stated that it is an important step towards strengthening global cooperation in traditional medicine. The proposed BRICS Expert Working Group will provide a meaningful platform for Member States to share knowledge, strengthen research, and advance evidence-based approaches.
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, informed that the New Delhi Declaration marks an important step in advancing structured cooperation on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine among BRICS countries. The proposed Expert Working Group can provide a focused platform for sharing evidence, strengthening research collaboration, and improving quality and regulatory approaches.
The Declaration specifically calls for greater cooperation in research on medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for therapeutic and preventive purposes. It recognises that the shared traditional pharmacopoeias of BRICS Member Countries can serve as a foundation for developing safe, effective and affordable therapeutic products.
The emphasis on coordinated research assumes particular significance for countries across the BRICS grouping, where traditional systems of medicine have evolved over generations and medicinal plants and herbal preparations form an important component of healthcare traditions. Greater cooperation can facilitate research, documentation, knowledge exchange and evidence generation while supporting the responsible development of therapeutic products.
The Declaration further reaffirms the importance of ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of TCIM practices and products through evidence-informed approaches and appropriate regulatory frameworks in accordance with the national contexts of Member States.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
