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BRICS leaders just gave traditional medicine its biggest political boost yet. The New Delhi Declaration, issued on September 12, 2026, formally endorsed the creation of a BRICS Expert Working Group on traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) — a first for the bloc. The move signals a shift from policy talk to real operational cooperation, with goals tied to universal health coverage and evidence-based integration of traditional medicine into health systems.
BRICS leaders just gave traditional medicine its biggest political boost yet. The New Delhi Declaration, issued at the close of the September 12–13, 2026 summit in India, dedicated a full paragraph to traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) — the strongest endorsement the bloc has ever made. For the first time, BRICS heads of state formally welcomed the creation of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the BRICS Health Track, moving the conversation from recognition to structured, operational cooperation.
This milestone builds on the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting held in Chandigarh in July 2026, which itself broke new ground by including the first-ever dedicated TCIM section in a Health Ministerial Declaration. Together, these two declarations mark a clear progression: BRICS nations are now committing to collaborative research, regulatory frameworks, digital knowledge-sharing, and even AI-assisted TCIM innovation.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With BRICS representing 11 major emerging markets, this declaration could meaningfully shape how traditional medicine is researched, regulated, and integrated into health systems globally — particularly in regions where TCIM is already a frontline healthcare option.
