The World Health Organization has confirmed Thailand as the host nation for the Third WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, scheduled for 2027. The announcement positions Thailand as a rising authority in traditional and complementary healthcare on the international stage.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat called the honor a reflection of the country’s readiness to lead global dialogue in this field, noting that hosting duties would boost Thailand’s visibility in traditional medical knowledge while opening doors for health-economy growth.
Held every two years, the Summit convenes health ministers, researchers, and policymakers to examine how traditional medicine fits into modern health systems—covering regulation, innovation, and international collaboration. The inaugural 2023 edition laid groundwork for the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy spanning 2025–2034. The follow-up summit, hosted in New Delhi in 2025 with over 107 nations and 25 health ministers in attendance, translated that strategy into concrete action, including the launch of a scientific library now holding upwards of 1.6 million records, alongside pledges from 26 member states and roughly 60 partner bodies.
Bangkok’s upcoming summit will take stock of these commitments while spotlighting a data-sharing initiative across a dozen pilot countries and new models linking traditional medicine to economic development.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusemphasized that traditional and integrative medicine remains essential healthcare access for billions globally, framing the 2027 gathering as a chance to convert prior pledges into measurable outcomes through stronger evidence, policy, and partnerships.
Thailand intends to use its hosting role to push forward international standards for herbal products and deepen cross-sector cooperation, cementing the Summit’s place in advancing WHO’s decade-long traditional medicine roadmap.
Written By: Sayan Das
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
