Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) has received its strongest endorsement yet by the BRICs group of countries. The leadership statement, issued at the close of the New Delhi meeting on 12 September 2026, dedicated a full paragraph to TCIM, recognizing important commitments agreed by BRICS health ministers in July 2026 , including a BRICS expert working group on TCIM.
The BRICS New Delhi statement signals an important progression from policy recognition towards concrete operational cooperation among Member States. For the first time, BRICS leaders have formally welcomed the proposed establishment of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the BRICS Health Track, creating a platform for dialogue, collaboration and exchange among Member States.
In the declaration, leaders acknowledged the growing relevance of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in strengthening health systems and advancing progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). They also underscored the importance of coordinated research on medicinal plants and herbal preparations with therapeutic and preventive applications, recognizing the shared traditional pharmacopoeias of BRICS countries as a potential foundation for developing safe, effective and affordable therapeutic products.
The leaders further reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of TCIM practices and products through evidence-informed approaches and appropriate regulatory frameworks, tailored to national contexts.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said, "The recognition of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in the New Delhi Declaration 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."
The summit outcome marks an important milestone in the evolution of BRICS cooperation on traditional medicine. It follows the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting, held in Chandigarh, India, on 23–24 July 2026, which produced the most significant political recognition of traditional medicine in the history of BRICS health collaboration. The Health Ministerial Declaration adopted at that meeting included the first dedicated section on TCIM and endorsed the creation of a BRICS expert working group focused on advancing cooperation in the field.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General on TCIM strengthening health systems
The endorsement by BRICS leaders in New Delhi strengthens momentum behind global efforts to advance the safe, effective and evidence-informed use of traditional medicine. It also reinforces growing engagement with the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, which serves as an international platform for research, capacity building and collaboration in traditional medicine.
The New Delhi Declaration aligns closely with the objectives of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 , which calls for stronger evidence, appropriate regulation, sustainable use of resources and greater integration of traditional medicine into health systems where appropriate.
The inclusion of dedicated traditional medicine commitments in both the 2026 Health Ministerial Declaration and the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration signals a new phase in BRICS cooperation, moving beyond recognition towards structured mechanisms for research, knowledge exchange and policy collaboration. As countries seek to expand access to safe, effective and affordable health services, BRICS leaders have highlighted TCIM as a valuable component of broader efforts to strengthen health systems and advance universal health coverage.
