India on Tuesday hosted the BRICS Meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in Chandigarh, bringing together senior officials and technical experts from the nine-member grouping to strengthen cooperation in traditional healthcare systems and advance the creation of a dedicated BRICS Expert Working Group on the subject.
The meeting, organised under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship, formed part of a four-day Health Track programme jointly hosted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Ayush. It was held under the Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation & Sustainability.”
Representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates participated in the discussions, focusing on expanding collaboration in evidence-based traditional medicine, sharing policy experiences and promoting scientific research in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine.
The formal session began with a welcome address by Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, followed by opening remarks from member delegations. A key outcome of the meeting was the consensus among participating countries on the Terms of Reference for the proposed BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM, marking an important step towards institutionalising cooperation in the sector.
Delegates also held detailed discussions on strengthening partnerships, harmonising policy approaches and identifying future areas of collaboration in research, education and regulatory frameworks.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Ayush Ministry organised a dedicated session on “Capacity Building, Education and Human Resource Development,” which explored ways to strengthen global education and training in traditional medicine. The discussions highlighted academic collaborations, Ayush scholarship programmes, faculty and student exchanges, research partnerships and evidence-generation initiatives aimed at creating a globally connected TCIM ecosystem.
As part of India’s BRICS Chairship events, Kotecha inaugurated the Ayush Zone, an interactive exhibition designed to showcase India’s holistic healthcare ecosystem. The exhibition offered delegates an opportunity to experience Ayush through wellness consultations, Ayush Aahar, displays on India’s herbal heritage, research and innovation initiatives, and live Yoga demonstrations.
The broader four-day Health Track programme also includes wellness and cultural activities highlighting India’s traditional healthcare practices. Delegates participated in Chair Yoga sessions and are scheduled to take part in demonstrations of the Common Yoga Protocol, Yoga Break (Y-Break) sessions during meetings and the Fit India Run. The Ayush Aahar Mela, organised with technical support from the National Institute of Ayurveda, presents traditional nutritional practices alongside exhibits on research, innovation and wellness.
According to the Ayush Ministry, the meeting produced several important outcomes, including progress towards establishing the BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM, stronger cooperation in research, education and regulatory frameworks, improved knowledge-sharing among member countries and greater recognition of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine within the BRICS Health agenda.
The meeting underscored India’s efforts to promote evidence-based traditional medicine while strengthening international partnerships to support accessible, sustainable and holistic healthcare across BRICS nations.
