The World Health Organization has established its first Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM) to strengthen scientific guidance and policy support for traditional medicine globally.
The creation of the group reflects WHO’s effort to implement the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 by applying scientific rigour to practices that many people around the world use for health and well-being.
STAG-TM will give WHO independent strategic and scientific advice on research priorities, develop norms and standards, guide approaches for integrating traditional medicine into health systems, and assist in formulating policy options for Member States. The group’s work aims to support evidence generation, effective regulation, health systems integration and international collaboration in traditional medicine.
The advisory group comprises 19 independent experts chosen through a global selection process to ensure diverse expertise and balanced geographic and gender representation. Members were appointed for two-year terms and will work through annual meetings and focused sub-groups addressing key areas such as evidence generation, regulation, integration and collaboration.
At its inaugural meeting in New Delhi on 17 December 2025, held alongside the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, STAG-TM identified priorities including methodological innovations in research, documentation and preservation of traditional knowledge, digitalisation and innovation, and community engagement. Its leadership includes two co-chairs with extensive experience in traditional medicine research and development.
WHO plans to develop thematic work plans for 2026–27 and begin consultations to advance its advisory priorities as part of its broader commitment to evidence-based, culturally informed health approaches.
