Colombo Declaration
Advancing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034; Adopted at the 63rd International Congress of Medicina Alternativa
Colombo, Sri Lanka | 24 November 2025 We, the participants of the 63nd World Congress of Medicina Alternativa — representing traditional medicine practitioners, integrative health professionals, researchers, educators, policymakers, Indigenous knowledge holders, civil society organisations, and youth from more than 40 countries — gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 24-26 November 2025,Celebrating
• Sri Lanka’s millennia-old Ayurvedic and Indigenous healing heritage and its newly launched National Policy on Traditional and Indigenous Medicine 2024–2034; • The historic adoption by the 78th World Health Assembly of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which for the first time after Alma Ata declaration of 1978 provides a comprehensive ten-year framework for evidence-based, safe, and equitable integration of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM);
Recognizing that
• Over 80 % of the world’s population relies on traditional and complementary medicine for primary health care; • The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased global demand for holistic, person-centred, and culturally appropriate health solutions; • Unsustainable harvesting, loss of biodiversity, and inadequate regulation continue to threaten both planetary health and the future of traditional medicine;
Reaffirming the nine core principles of the WHO Strategy — evidence-based practice, sustainability, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, health equity, and people-centred care — as the ethical foundation for all future actions;
Hereby Declare Our Collective Commitment to:
1. Fully endorse and actively implement the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 at national, regional, and global levels. 2. Strengthen the evidence base by establishing multi-country clinical research networks focused on priority areas such as chronic disease management, mental health, healthy ageing, and antimicrobial resistance, with special attention to Sri Lankan and South Asian traditional systems.
Landmark Colombo Declaration Ushers in Era of Integrative Health for All at Medicina World Congress Colombo, Sri Lanka. November 24, 2025
In a historic gathering that echoed the revolutionary spirit of the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care, global leaders in medicine, science, and policy convened at the iconic Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) for the Medicina World Congress. The event culminated today in the adoption of the Colombo Declaration on Integrative Health for All, a bold blueprint to weave traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) into everyday healthcare systems worldwide. Spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Sir Lakshman Madurasinghe, Chairman of the renowned Medicina Alternativa—BOI, the declaration reaffirms a collective pledge to transform the World Health Organization's (WHO) Traditional Medicine Strategy into actionable reality, beginning in Sri Lanka and rippling across continents.
The three-day congress, which drew over 500 practitioners, doctors, scientists, researchers, teachers, policymakers, and esteemed members of orders like the Knights of the EMH Order and Knights of St John of Jerusalem, buzzed with vibrant discussions on holistic healing approaches. Sessions explored everything from ancient Sri Lankan Ayurvedic traditions to cutting-edge neuro-economic models for wellness, underscoring Medicina Alternativa's six-decade legacy as a pioneer in complementary medicine with a network spanning 100 countries and training more than 150,000 practitioners globally.
"This is our generation's Alma-Ata moment," declared Prof. Madurasinghe during the declaration's signing ceremony, his voice resonating through the grand hall adorned with cultural motifs of Sri Lanka's healing heritage. "Just as Alma-Ata ignited the flame of Primary Health Care in 1978, Colombo 2025 ignites Integrative Health for All—a commitment to blend the best of traditional wisdom with modern science, ensuring equitable access for every individual, community, and nation. "The declaration calls for immediate integration of TCIM into national health policies, emphasizing evidence-based practices, community-led initiatives, and cross-sector collaborations. Key pillars include:
• Universal Access: Embedding integrative therapies in primary care to address physical, mental, and social well-being holistically. • Innovation and Research: Fostering global studies on TCIM's efficacy, with Sri Lanka positioned as a hub for ancient-modern fusion, including explorations of historical figures like Ravana in medical lore. • Sustainability: Training workforces in gender-sensitive, culturally attuned care, while leveraging digital tools for remote integrative services.
Attendees hailed from diverse corners, including academic luminaries of Medicina, and indigenous knowledge keepers, creating a tapestry of perspectives. "Prof. Madurasinghe's vision bridges eras and borders," noted one delegate, a researcher from the Open International University for Complementary Medicines (OIUCM). "This isn't just a document—it's a movement."
The congress also featured hands-on workshops, keynote addresses on biopsychology and lifespan development, and cultural performances blending Sinhala healing chants with contemporary wellness demos. As the event wrapped, participants departed inspired, ready to champion the declaration's
Scanned Copy of Signed Declaration
