BRICS Nations Move to Strengthen Traditional Medicine Co-op

• India hosts BRICS meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM).
• BRICS nations finalise Terms of Reference for proposed Expert Working Group.
• Delegates discuss research, education and regulatory cooperation in traditional medicine.
• Ayush Zone showcases India’s holistic healthcare, wellness and herbal heritage.

GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 22nd July: India on Tuesday hosted the BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in Chandigarh, with member nations agreeing to advance cooperation in traditional medicine and finalising the Terms of Reference for a proposed BRICS Expert Working Group in the sector.

Held under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship and the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation & Sustainability,” the meeting brought together senior government officials, technical experts and delegates from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

The meeting, organised jointly by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Ayush, focused on strengthening collaboration in evidence-based traditional medicine, promoting policy coordination, enhancing research partnerships and building resilient healthcare systems.

The formal session began with a welcome address by Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, followed by discussions among member countries on future cooperation in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Delegates reached consensus on the framework for establishing the BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM, aimed at deepening collaboration in research, education and regulatory practices.

A dedicated side event on capacity building, education and human resource development explored academic partnerships, Ayush scholarships, faculty and student exchange programmes, research collaboration and evidence-generation initiatives to strengthen global traditional medicine education.

As part of the event, Kotecha inaugurated the Ayush Zone, where delegates experienced India’s holistic healthcare ecosystem through Ayush Aahar, wellness consultations, Yoga sessions, herbal heritage displays and exhibits on research, innovation and global Ayush initiatives.

The BRICS Health Track programme also featured wellness activities, including Chair Yoga, Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) demonstrations, Yoga Break (Y-Break) sessions and the Fit India Run, highlighting India’s traditional wellness practices.

According to the Ministry of Ayush, the meeting marked significant progress towards institutionalising cooperation on traditional medicine within BRICS, while strengthening knowledge-sharing, research collaboration and policy coordination among member countries.

The ministry said the initiative reflects India’s continued commitment to promoting evidence-based traditional medicine and expanding international partnerships to support accessible, sustainable and holistic healthcare.