China plays important role in advancing traditional medicine globally, WHO official says

BEIJING -- China has an important role to play in advancing traditional medicine globally, drawing on its experience in integrating traditional medicine into the broader health system, said Saia Ma'u Piukala, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

In an interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026, Piukala said traditional, complementary and integrative medicine is an important and growing part of global health care, contributing to people's health and well-being, people-centered care and universal health coverage.

When appropriately integrated into health systems, traditional medicine can improve health outcomes by expanding access to services, especially in primary health care. Yet, such integration must be grounded in the latest scientific evidence and ensure safety and effectiveness, he said. Even long-used practices require rigorous validation of their efficacy and safety, he added.

The WHO's Western Pacific regional framework for traditional and complementary medicine sets out four strategic actions: promoting the role of traditional and complementary medicine in national policies; strengthening context-specific mechanisms to ensure the safety, quality and effectiveness of services; improving service coverage and equitable access to safe and effective care; and supporting the documentation, research and innovation needed to inform policy and practice.

The World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 was held in Beijing on Oct 17 and 18.

The conference provided a valuable opportunity to build on countries' knowledge and experience, including China's longstanding contributions, and strengthen international cooperation, Piukala said.

He expressed hope that the conference would advance scientific research, promote the harmonization of international standards and strengthen regulatory cooperation, while supporting the appropriate integration of traditional medicine into health systems based on scientific evidence, with safeguards for safety and effectiveness and in accordance with national regulatory arrangements and country contexts.

China's experience offers valuable lessons as countries respond to population aging, the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and rising demand for people-centered, integrated health services, Piukala said.

China has established a well-developed traditional medicine system supported by a strong policy framework and sustained investment in education and training, research, service delivery and regulatory capacity, said Piukala.

China's experience in integrating traditional medicine into primary health care and other health services, while applying risk-based regulation to products and practitioners, is particularly relevant to other countries in the Western Pacific region, he noted.

China's efforts to strengthen professional training, quality assurance and scientific research also offer valuable lessons for improving the safety and quality of traditional medicine and helping people make informed choices about its use. Other countries can draw on these experiences while adapting them to their own health systems and populations' needs, guided by scientific evidence and appropriate regulation, Piukala said.

Turning to technological innovation, Piukala said modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, can further support the development of traditional medicine by helping researchers analyze complex biological data, investigate potential mechanisms of action, identify promising compounds, develop new research approaches and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine products and practices.

Such innovation must be guided by scientific rigor, ethics and responsible data governance, while respecting traditional knowledge and associated rights, he stressed.

Piukala also emphasized the importance of sustained international cooperation. Multilateral collaboration enables countries to learn from one another and make progress together, he said, calling for practical partnerships, stronger networks and greater solidarity to build on the momentum of the conference.

"Ultimately, international cooperation on traditional medicine will maintain its momentum and deliver tangible benefits to people when we turn our shared commitments into sustained, collective action," he said.