India, Dec. 12 -- The vast majority of World Health Organization (WHO) member States say 40 to 90 per cent of their populations now use traditional medicine.

That's according to Shyama Kuruvilla, director of WHO's Global Traditional Medicine Centre, established in 2022 to tap into the potential of these systems for healthcare and well-being.

"With half the world's population lacking access to essential health services, traditional medicine is often the closest or only care available for many people," Kuruvilla told a virtual media briefing on Wednesday, ahead of this month's WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.

"For many others, it's a preferred choice because it is personalised and holistic. It's bioculturally aligned and it sup...