Malawi Pledges to Integrate Traditional Medicine into National Health System at WHO Global Summit
Malawi has reaffirmed its commitment to transform Traditional Medicine into a safe, regulated, evidence-based, and accountable pillar of the national health system.
The pledge was made during the second World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in New Delhi last month.
Dr. John Mponda, Team Lead for Traditional Medicine at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) attended the high-level summit which was led by Minister of Health Madalitsao Baloyi.
During ministerial-level discussions, the Minister highlighted the important role that Traditional Medicine plays in primary health care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“There is an urgent need for strong governance, ethical regulation, measurable outcomes, and integration with national health information systems. We also have to stress that accountability and patient safety must underpin the future development of the sector,” she said.
Among the commitments made are the provision of in-service training for health workers and traditional medicine practitioners, the conduct of community awareness campaigns on the rational use of traditional medicines, and investment in research and quality assurance through the establishment of a National Herbal Medicine Quality Control Laboratory and a National Centre for Traditional Medicine Research.
Dr. Mponda further noted that KUHeS will contribute to capacity building in traditional medicine in Malawi through the launch of a Bachelor of Science in Herbal Medicine. He emphasized that the successful implementation of these commitments will require the involvement of all key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, training and research institutions, and practitioner/patient associations.
In his closing remarks, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, called on Member States to move “from advocacy to accountability,” urging countries to translate commitments into measurable national actions. Further emphasizing that Traditional Medicine must be governed, scientifically validated, and responsibly integrated into health systems to meaningfully contribute to Universal Health Coverage.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Summit as a historic milestone in restoring balance between people, health systems, and the planet. He stressed that ancient wisdom and modern science must work together, supported by strong institutions, research, and ethical innovation, to deliver safe and effective Traditional Medicine services globally.
The high-level Summit, convened by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Government of India, brought together global leaders, ministers of health, researchers, regulators, and traditional medicine experts under the theme “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being.” The meeting was aligned with the newly launched WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.
The Summit elevated Malawi’s profile as a reform-oriented Member State and positioned the country to benefit from WHO technical assistance, international research collaboration, and potential investment.
