Tanzania and India have signed a new cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening the development, research and integration of traditional medicine, marking a fresh milestone in health collaboration between the two countries.
The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Summit hosted by India, an event that brought together policymakers, researchers and practitioners to shape global standards and scientific pathways for traditional and complementary medicine.
Under the partnership, priority will be given to community-based and cost-effective research, with a strong emphasis on collaboration between government research institutions, laboratories and universities in both countries. The initiative is designed to bridge indigenous knowledge systems with modern scientific validation, ensuring safety, efficacy and wider acceptance within national healthcare systems.
Officials say the agreement aligns with broader efforts by the WHO to promote evidence-based traditional medicine as part of universal health coverage, particularly in developing countries where access to conventional healthcare can be limited. Tanzania, which has a long history of traditional healing practices, is expected to benefit from India’s institutional experience in Ayurveda, yoga and other codified traditional medicine systems.
India, meanwhile, continues to position itself as a global hub for traditional medicine research and policy coordination, leveraging the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine to foster international partnerships. The collaboration with Tanzania is seen as part of a wider push to support South–South cooperation in healthcare innovation.
Both sides indicated that the agreement would support knowledge exchange, joint research projects and capacity building, while encouraging responsible use of traditional medicine within regulated frameworks. The move is expected to contribute to public health resilience, local innovation and affordable healthcare delivery across communities.
