The Global South organisation’s recognition is an important step towards strengthening global cooperation in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine.

The commitment by BRICS leaders is in lockstep with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, which provides an international platform for research, capacity building and collaboration in traditional medicine.

BRICS is an international organisation that brings together the biggest countries and economies in the Global South including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

It represents nearly half of the world’s population and comprises more than a quarter of the global economy.

BRICS leaders say support of traditional medicine will strengthen health and advance progress towards universal health coverage systems in Global South countries.

The endorsement by BRICS leaders at the organisation’s recent New Delhi summit builds momentum behind WHO’s efforts to advance the safe, effective and evidence-informed use of traditional medicine.

Experts say it signals a new phase in BRICS cooperation, moving beyond recognition towards structured mechanisms for research, knowledge exchange and policy collaboration.