WHO Calls for Stronger Regulation as Traditional Medicine Expands Globally
Oluwatobi Adu 
Unit Head at the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, Dr. Geetha Krishnan Gopalakrishna Pillai
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stronger scientific evidence, regulatory oversight and collaboration to ensure traditional medicine is safely integrated into healthcare systems as its global use continues to grow.
The organisation made the call following discussions at a recent workshop held in Cape Town, South Africa, during the World Congress on Public Health on Wednesday, where researchers, policymakers and public health experts explored strategies for improving the safety, quality and accountability of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM).
Unit Head at the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, Dr. Geetha Krishnan Gopalakrishna Pillai, said strengthening scientific evidence remains central to achieving the objectives of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.
“Strengthening the evidence base for TCIM is foundational to achieving the strategy’s broader goals of safe use, effective regulation, integration into health systems and community empowerment,” she said.
Participants noted that although traditional medicine is widely used across most WHO Member States, investment in research and evidence generation has not kept pace with its growing role in public health.
Former WHO Regional Adviser on Traditional Medicine for Africa, Prof. Ossy Kasilo, urged countries to strengthen regulatory frameworks, quality assurance systems and pharmacovigilance while promoting collaboration between traditional and conventional healthcare practitioners.
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Korede Abdullah 
