The World Health Organization (WHO) and India signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to establish the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.
The global health agency announced in a statement that the center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, will open on April 21.
“Traditional medicine is the first port of call for many millions of people around the world to treat many diseases,” it said, citing WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Assuring that everyone has access to safe and effective treatment is a key part of WHO’s mission, and this new center will help to harness the power of science to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine,” he added.
“Through various initiatives, our government has been tireless in its endeavour to make preventive and curative healthcare affordable and accessible to all,” the statement continued, citing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“May the global centre in Jamnagar contribute to the world’s best healthcare solutions,” he concluded.
According to the statement, India contributed $250 million to the center for traditional medicine.
The center’s mission is to “harness the potential of traditional medicine from around the world using modern science and technology to improve people’s and the planet’s health,” according to its website.
Traditional medicine, according to the WHO, is the “total sum of indigenous and different cultures’ knowledge, skills, and practices used to maintain health and prevent, diagnose, and treat disease over time.”