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The 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine in Beijing was a significant global event, gathering more than three thousand experts, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers from eighty-five countries who presented advances and new horizons to explore within the field of traditional medicine. The conference set up a government forum and nine academic parallel forums.

The government forum invited officials from Chinese and foreign health and traditional medicine administrative departments, representatives of international organizations, and experts to focus on the key issues of the World Health Organization’s “Global Traditional Medicine Strategy”.

At the “Advanced Technology and Digital Intelligence in Traditional Medicine Forum”, hosted by the “Monitoring and Statistics Information Center of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine” and co-organized by the “Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences”, Olga Surdu, President of World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy was invited to moderate the session.

The parallel forum invited internationally renowned experts and scholars in traditional medicine from China and abroad to give academic reports, and conduct in-depth discussions on topics such as herbal quality and safety, traditional medicine education, acupuncture, application of advanced technology and digitalization in traditional medicine.

With the theme “Diversity, Inheritance, and Innovation: Traditional Medicine for All,” the conference explored evidence-based practices, artificial intelligence applications in research, and the standardization of traditional medicine. These discussions set the stage for actionable steps to advance traditional medicine as an important contribution to achieving Universal Health Coverage and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The purpose of the conference was to better promote exchanges and cooperation in traditional medicine, enhance the global recognition of different traditional medicine systems, and stimulate research in this area.

The event served as a platform to discuss how traditional medicine can contribute to global health challenges, including prevention, treatment, and holistic care. Emphasis was placed on the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge while ensuring safety, efficacy, and scientific validation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes traditional medicine as an essential part of global health. The integration of traditional systems such as Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Unani, Indigenous healing practices, and Naturopathy with modern medical practices could lead to more holistic healthcare approaches, addressing not just the disease but the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health.

The vision of the 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine in Beijing aligns with WHO’s forthcoming Global strategy for traditional medicine 2025-2034, set to be presented at the World Health Assembly in May 2025. It brought together global experts and policy leaders to discuss advancing traditional medicine to achieve Universal Health Coverage and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The event facilitated cross-disciplinary collaboration, involving not only medical professionals but also environmental scientists, IT and cultural experts.
The 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare by bringing traditional wisdom into the global conversation. It highlights the importance of blending ancient knowledge with modern medical practices for a more integrated and holistic approach to human health.

This event promoted the idea that traditional medicine, when scientifically validated and properly integrated into health systems, can offer valuable tools for achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development.

The conference emphasized how the continued recognition and integration of traditional medicine into global health systems could provide sustainable, effective, and culturally appropriate health solutions for millions worldwide.

At the end of 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine held in Beijing participants adopted the Beijing Declaration. This declaration emphasizes the important role of traditional medicine as a carrier of cultural heritage across the globe and highlights its significant contribution to health throughout the life course. It also calls for strengthened research, evidence, and international collaboration to effectively integrate traditional medicine into global healthcare systems.