The Maldives will establish a national committee to advance indigenous medical practices, Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim announced at a global summit in India.
Speaking at the World Health Organization’s Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi, Minister Nazim said the initiative aims to promote local healing traditions safely and on an evidentiary basis. He highlighted the distinctive context of the island nation, citing the historical ties between Maldivian society, its marine resources and inherited medical customs.
Minister Nazim described traditional medicine as a complementary discipline that must remain grounded in science, ethics and equity. He added that the administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu will provide technical guidance and encourage collaboration across sectors through the new committee.
The plan includes archiving traditional practices, particularly those related to orthopaedics and wellness, and conducting research under strict ethical standards. Future strategies, he said, will also explore ways to integrate these remedies into primary healthcare services across selected islands.
The announcement was made during a ministerial roundtable attended by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and health officials from 24 nations. The gathering concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which calls for strengthening traditional medicine within mainstream health systems through rigorous scientific validation.