China Has an Important Role in Promoting Traditional Medicine Globally, WHO Official Says
Dragon Media Newsroom
China’s experience integrating traditional medicine into its health system can contribute significantly to its promotion worldwide, said Saia Ma’u Piukala, the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Western Pacific.
Speaking to Xinhua during the 2026 World Conference on Traditional Medicine, held in Beijing on October 17 and 18, Piukala said traditional, complementary and integrative medicine is becoming an increasingly important part of global health care. It can contribute to people’s health and well-being, people-centred care and universal health coverage, he said.
Integrating traditional medicine into health systems can expand access to services, particularly primary health care. However, such integration must be based on scientific evidence and ensure safety and effectiveness. Even practices used for a long time require rigorous assessment, he said.
The WHO’s Western Pacific regional framework calls for countries to include traditional and complementary medicine in national policies, strengthen safeguards for safety and quality, improve equitable access, and support research and documentation.
Piukala said China had developed a comprehensive traditional medicine system through sustained investment in education and training, research, health services and regulation. Other countries could learn from China’s integration of traditional medicine into primary health care, as well as its risk-based regulation of products and practitioners.
Modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, could help researchers analyze biological data, investigate how treatments work, identify promising compounds, and assess the safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine products and practices, he said. Their use should be guided by scientific rigour, ethics and responsible data governance, while respecting traditional knowledge and related rights.
Piukala said the conference offered an opportunity to advance research, align international standards and strengthen regulatory cooperation. He called for sustained international collaboration to turn shared commitments into practical action and deliver tangible benefits to people.
