International Partnerships for Traditional Medicine Quality Assurance at WHO Forum

The 16th Annual Meeting of the World Health Organization – International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO–IRCH) is being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 14th to 16th October 2025. The meeting brings together representatives from WHO Member States and observer organisations to deliberate on the harmonisation of regulatory frameworks and to promote international cooperation in the areas of safety, quality, and efficacy of herbal medicines.

India is participating through a high-level delegation led by Dr. Raghu Arackal, Advisor (Ayurveda), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. The delegation also includes Dr. Raman Mohan Singh, Deputy Director General (I/c), Ayush, and Director, Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), and Dr. Mahesh Dadhich, Chief Executive Officer, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB). Their active participation highlights India’s leadership in advancing regulatory harmonisation and integration of traditional medicine systems within global health frameworks.

On 13th October 2025, the delegation met Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of India to Indonesia. The delegation apprised the Ambassador of India’s participation in the WHO–IRCH Annual Meeting and explored avenues to strengthen international collaboration in traditional medicine. Detailed discussions focused on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional Medicine Quality Assurance between the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (FDA) and the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), Ministry of Ayush, signed on 26th January 2025.

On the opening day of the meeting, Dr. Raghu Arackal delivered a presentation on the status of herbal medicines in India, highlighting recent initiatives, policy developments, and international partnerships led by the Ministry of Ayush.
(UPDATED ON 14TH OCTOBER 2025)