India Signs Host Country Agreement With WHO For Setting Up Global Centre Of Traditional Medicine In Gujarat

The Ministry of Ayush has signed the Host Country Agreement with World Health Organization (WHO) for establishing WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India at Gujarat's Jamnagar, with its interim office at the Institute of Training and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Gujarat, an official release said on Saturday (26 March).

This Centre will be supported by an investment of about $250 million from the Central government.

The primary objective of GCTM is to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology and improve overall health of the communities’ world over, the Ministry of Ayush said in a release.

The agreement was signed on Friday (25 March) in Geneva by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush and WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Last month, the Union Cabinet had approved the establishment of the Centre.

After signing of the pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "India is honoured to be home to a state-of-the-art WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. This Centre will contribute towards making a healthier planet and leveraging our rich traditional practices for global good".

"Traditional medicines and wellness practices from India are very popular globally. This WHO Centre will go a long way in enhancing wellness in our society," he said.