The World Health Organization has identified major health conditions for research into traditional, complementary and integrative medicine over the next decade. (Photo: @WHO)

NEW DELHI: From stroke and cancer to mental health and pain management, the World Health Organization has identified major health conditions for research into traditional, complementary and integrative medicine over the next decade.Its 2025-2034 research agenda identifies stroke, mental health, pain management, musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, metabolic and endocrine disorders, and reproductive health and childbirth as priority areas. Prevention and health promotion, healthy ageing and healthy childhood are also included.The report highlights a striking mismatch between disease burden and research. Stroke ranks third globally in causes of mortality and disability, yet less than 1% of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine-funded grants address the condition. Mental health ranks eighth among contributors to disability-adjusted life years, but the review found very few or no grants specifically focused on mental health conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions are also a prominent cause of disability globally but remain under-researched relative to their burden.Cancer, too, features among the priority areas, with the report noting rising global incidence and calling for research into integrative oncology and palliative care. For metabolic health and endocrine disorders, WHO identifies the need for stronger evidence, including longer-term studies on conditions such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.WHO says the aim is to generate stronger evidence on effectiveness, safety, regulation and health-system integration so countries can make informed decisions about the role of these approaches in healthcareThe research agenda also puts patient safety under the spotlight. It calls for studies on herb-drug interactions, monitoring and reporting of adverse events, regulatory and quality-assurance systems, and the safe integration of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine into primary healthcare.

The push comes against a broader funding gap. WHO says traditional, complementary and integrative medicine is widely used globally, with use reaching up to 80% of populations in some settings, while less than 1% of global health research funding is directed towards research in the field.India has a direct connection to the agenda. The WHO report acknowledges financial support from the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, for its development and publication. India was also among the health ministries that participated in the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in New Delhi in December 2025.The report, however, is a research-prioritisation framework rather than a clinical guideline or recommendation to use any particular traditional medicine.