The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping has moved to deepen cooperation in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM), with the New Delhi Declaration backing the proposed creation of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the health track, on September 12, in New Delhi.

The move signals a shift from broad recognition of traditional medicine towards more structured collaboration focused on research, regulation, quality and scientific evidence.

The proposed expert group is expected to provide a common platform for BRICS countries to exchange knowledge, coordinate research and share regulatory and quality-assurance practices. The Declaration also calls for greater cooperation on medicinal plants and herbal preparations used for therapeutic and preventive purposes.

For countries with long-established traditional medical systems, the initiative could help turn shared knowledge and pharmacopoeial traditions into scientifically validated, quality-assured therapeutic products.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, said the proposed group would enable member countries to “share knowledge, strengthen research and advance evidence-based approaches”. He said India would continue to promote Ayurveda and other traditional systems through scientific research, quality assurance and international collaboration.

The emphasis on evidence is central to the initiative. The Declaration underlines the need to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of TCIM practices and products through evidence-informed approaches and regulatory frameworks suited to national contexts.

The development builds on the BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine held in Chandigarh on July 21 during India’s BRICS chairship. The meeting brought together government officials, experts and delegates from member states and produced consensus on the Terms of Reference for the proposed expert group.

The initiative also comes as global health policymakers increasingly examine how traditional medicine can contribute to healthcare systems without compromising scientific standards. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 similarly stresses stronger evidence, safety, quality and appropriate integration into health systems.

For India, the BRICS initiative offers an international platform to advance Ayurveda and the wider Ayush ecosystem while aligning traditional knowledge with modern research and regulatory standards.

The larger message from New Delhi is clear: traditional medicine is gaining a place in global health discussions—but its future credibility will increasingly depend on evidence, safety, efficacy and quality.