Draft Concept Note

Title

From Global Strategy to National Action: The Evolving Contribution of WHO Collaborating Centers in Advancing Traditional Medicine

Background

Last May 2025, the adoption of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 has represented a significant step towards strengthening the safe, evidence-informed and appropriate integration of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) into health systems worldwide. Achieving the Strategy's objectives will require coordinated action across WHO, Member States, academic institutions, Non-State Actors (NSA), and other relevant stakeholders.

WHO Collaborating Centers (WHOCCs) are key institutional partners in this process and should be playing a growing role in the current landscape. Designated by WHO to support its programme of work, they provide technical expertise, generate evidence, strengthen research capacity, support policy development, foster international collaboration and translate global priorities into practical implementation. Therefore, WHOCCs play a crucial role in the implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.

Europe is home to a few but a growing number of WHO Collaborating Centers on Traditional Medicine, with distinct yet complementary areas of expertise. Some contribute through evidence generation, implementation research and public health; others through clinical implementation, professional education and health service delivery; while newly designated centers are helping strengthen WHOCCs’ institutional collaboration and innovation. Together, they represent a unique ecosystem capable of supporting the implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy across diverse national contexts.

As implementation of the Strategy continues, there is an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration across European WHO Collaborating Centers, leverage their complementary strengths and explore how they can collectively support WHO, Member States and the broader TCIM community.

Goal

To explore how WHO Collaborating Centers contribute to the implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 through complementary functions spanning evidence generation, public health, inclusive knowledge systems, clinical implementation, institutional leadership and international collaboration.

Objectives

The panel will:

Examine the evolving role of WHO Collaborating Centers in implementing the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.

Share experiences and highlight complementary contributions across the implementation continuum, including evidence generation, patient safety, public health, knowledge translation, clinical implementation and institutional leadership.

Explore how WHO Collaborating Centers support Member States through technical cooperation, policy advice, implementation monitoring and capacity building.

Discuss approaches to engaging Indigenous Peoples and national minority communities while promoting respectful, evidence-informed integration of traditional knowledge systems.

Identify opportunities for stronger collaboration among European WHO Collaborating Centers in support of WHO priorities.

Proposed Format

Duration: 60 minutes

Format

Opening remarks

Moderated panel discussion

Audience Q&A

Closing reflections

Proposed Speakers

Moderator

Dr. Hiba BoujnahHead, WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional, Integrative and Preventive MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Panelists

Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla (WHO, Global)

Director ai, WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (WHO GTMC)

Perspective: Global Strategy and WHO Leadership

Representing the World Health Organization, Shyama will explore the vision and implementation architecture of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and the strategic role of WHO Collaborating Centers within this global framework. She will discuss how WHO collaborates with Member States and its network of Collaborating Centers to develop normative guidance, shape global research priorities, strengthen technical cooperation, foster international partnerships and monitor progress towards implementation. She will also reflect on the opportunities and challenges of advancing safe, evidence-informed, culturally responsive and people-centred traditional medicine within diverse health systems worldwide.

Dr. Barbara Wider (Norway)

Head, WHO Collaborating Centre, NAFKAM

Perspective: Evidence, Public Health and Inclusive Knowledge Systems

Drawing on nearly two decades as a WHO Collaborating Centre, Barbara will explore how evidence generation, patient safety, public health and knowledge translation contribute to implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy. She will also share NAFKAM's experience in advising governments, developing implementation indicators, producing trusted evidence for patients and policymakers, and supporting WHO's work on traditional medicine among Indigenous Peoples and national minority communities in the Nordic region.

Prof. John Hughes (UK)

Head, WHO Collaborating Centre, Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

Perspective: Clinical Implementation and Professional Leadership

Reflecting on the experience of an established WHO Collaborating Centre embedded within a national health system, John will discuss translating evidence into clinical practice, professional education, multidisciplinary care and technical support to WHO, while demonstrating how integrative medicine can be implemented within mainstream healthcare.

Prof. Georg Seifert (Germany)

Director, Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, WHO Collaborating Centre

Perspective: Building the Next Generation of WHO Collaborating Centers in Europe

Representing one of Europe's newest WHO Collaborating Centers, Georg will reflect on establishing institutional capacity, developing strategic partnerships and creating new opportunities for research, policy engagement and international collaboration under the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, in Europe.

Guiding Discussion Questions

What role should WHO Collaborating Centers play in implementing the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy over the coming decade?

How can WHO Collaborating Centers better support WHO and Member States?

How do different WHO Collaborating Centers contribute complementary functions across the implementation continuum?

How can collaboration between WHO Collaborating Centers be strengthened across Europe and globally?

What should success look like by 2034, and how should implementation be measured?

Expected Outcomes

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and the strategic role of WHO Collaborating Centers in advancing the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy through complementary contributions they make across evidence generation, public health, clinical implementation, knowledge translation and institutional development.

The discussion will identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration among European WHO Collaborating Centers, support Member States in translating global strategy into national action, and reinforce the contribution of WHO Collaborating Centers to advancing safe, evidence-informed and culturally responsive traditional medicine in Europe and worldwide.