The Ministry of Ayush has announced that the 18th BRICS Summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which formally recognizes Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) as part of international health cooperation. The declaration backs the creation of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM to enable structured dialogue and collaboration among member nations. This move affects researchers, healthcare practitioners, policymakers and ordinary citizens across BRICS countries seeking access to traditional medicine systems.
What the declaration contains
The New Delhi Declaration emphasizes cooperation in traditional medicine with a focus on evidence-based approaches and scientific validation. Member States have agreed to establish the BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the BRICS Health Track as a formal platform for sharing knowledge and advancing research.
Key areas of cooperation outlined in the declaration include:
- Research on medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for healing and prevention
- Exchange of experience in research methodologies, quality standards and regulatory practices
- Documentation and scientific understanding of traditional medicinal resources
- Development of safe, effective and affordable therapeutic products
- Capacity building and knowledge exchange among research institutions and experts
The declaration specifically stresses that all TCIM practices and products must meet standards for quality, safety and efficacy through evidence-informed approaches tailored to each member nation’s context. This framework aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which similarly calls for stronger evidence bases and appropriate integration into health systems.
India held a preparatory BRICS meeting on TCIM in Chandigarh on July 21, 2026, where senior officials and experts from member states finalized terms of reference for the proposed working group.
What this means for you
The declaration creates an official platform for BRICS nations to collaborate on traditional medicine research and development. This could lead to better-documented, scientifically validated traditional treatments becoming more widely available and trusted across borders. For practitioners and users of Ayurveda and similar systems, it provides international recognition and support for evidence-based practice. Patients may eventually benefit from more rigorously tested traditional medicines backed by coordinated research among nations with deep historical traditions in these systems.