Thailand will host the Third WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in 2027, highlighting the country’s leadership in traditional and complementary medicine.
Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Pattana Promphat, said the decision shows that the country is ready to bring people together to discuss traditional medicine globally.
He added that Thailand’s system is gaining more recognition worldwide.
Hosting the summit will help raise awareness of Thailand’s traditional medical knowledge and offer an important opportunity to boost the health economy and support sustainable growth.
What Is the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine?
The WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine is a meeting that takes place every two years.
It brings together health ministers, policymakers, researchers, medical professionals, and public health leaders to talk about how traditional medicine can strengthen health systems. The discussions focus on using evidence, setting standards, encouraging innovation, working together internationally, and integrating traditional medicine into national health services.
The first summit, held in 2023, helped set the direction for the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy, which spans from 2025 to 2034.
The second summit, in 2025, made that strategy a reality by launching the Traditional Medicine Global Library, which has over 1.6 million scientific records and is growing, and by getting time-bound commitments from 26 countries and around 60 partner groups.
What the 2027 Summit Will Focus On
The second summit, held in New Delhi, India, had participants from over 107 countries, including 25 health ministers.
The strong turnout shows that more WHO member countries are interested in traditional medicine and want help with research and guidance in this area.
The third summit will review how well the previous commitments are being kept and will focus on a new global traditional medicine data network in 12 countries.
It will also highlight new efforts showing how traditional medicine can support economic growth and sustainable development.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine is a vital part of healthcare for billions of people.
He added that the third summit offers a unique chance to turn past commitments into real actions by improving evidence, supporting better policies, and building stronger partnerships. By working together, they can ensure traditional medicine is safe, fair, and sustainable, helping move toward the goal of Health for All.
Thailand’s Role in Traditional Medicine
The 2027 summit will be both a high-level policy meeting and a science-based event featuring the latest research and real-world examples.
It will allow people to share how traditional medicine can help create more people-centered and accessible healthcare systems.
Thailand sees the 2027 summit as an opportunity to demonstrate practical ways to include traditional medicine in regular healthcare and to strengthen international collaboration.
Officials say the event could help push forward international standards, support greater acceptance of herbal products, and create partnerships between governments, researchers, and companies.
Strengthening Global Traditional Medicine Cooperation
The 2027 summit will be an important step in making the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 a reality and in strengthening global cooperation around the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of traditional medicine.
