Government to Boost Investment in Traditional Medicine Development, Declares Minister Basnet

The Nepalese government is poised to increase its commitment to the advancement and expansion of traditional medicine, according to Health and Population Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet. In his address at the Traditional Medicine Global Summit, jointly organized by the WHO and hosted by the government of India in Gandhinagar, Gujarat State, Minister Basnet underscored the importance of developing traditional medicine given that around 80 percent of Nepal’s population resides in rural areas and relies on traditional remedies to varying extents.

Minister Basnet declared, “It is high time to develop and expand traditional medicine. We should not delay anymore,” as he participated in the plenary session of the Summit. The event featured Health Ministers from G-20 countries and distinguished representatives from various nations within WHO’s six regions, including scientists, traditional medicine practitioners, healthcare professionals, and civil society members.

Highlighting that each nation possesses its unique experiences in the realm of traditional medicine, Minister Basnet advocated for knowledge and experience sharing as well as collaboration to produce both traditional and Ayurvedic medicines. The Summit’s participants united in their commitment to enhance scholarships for high-level personnel in the Ayurveda sector, foster collaboration in Ayurveda and naturopathy, and facilitate the import and export of manufactured Ayurvedic medicine.

Dr. Vasudev Upadhyay, Director General of Nepal’s Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine, revealed that the Summit aimed to explore the role of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine in tackling critical health challenges and advancing global health and sustainable development. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, urged collaboration among all stakeholders to promote the development of traditional medicine.

In the Summit’s inaugural session, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s Union Health Minister, and Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ayush, emphasized that relying solely on modern medicine might not be sufficient to treat all ailments. They stressed the need for comprehensive partnerships to advance traditional medicine development.