Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the exchange of Covid-19 related medicines and medical equipment between Bangladesh and India during the surge of the pandemic has been considered a role model of “good neighbourhood” diplomacy.
“The whole world has seen how two neighbours support each other and work together during the time of crisis,” she said in a video message to the inaugural ceremony of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) at Jamnagar in the Indian state of Gujarat.
She said that better outcome in ensuring basic healthcare for all is expected if traditional medicine is practiced in tandem with modern medicine.
“I believe, if the traditional medicine is practiced in tandem with the modern medicine, we may expect the better outcome in ensuring basic healthcare for all, as envisioned in the SDG goal 3,” she said.
The prime minister also said that the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need to revisit our focus on ensuring good health and well-being of the people.
She expressed confidence that the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine will emerge as a global hub for evidence-based research and standards for traditional medicine.
She appreciated its strategic focus on sustainability, equity, and innovation.
“It is important that the ancient knowledge-base of traditional medicine be combined with modern science and technologies to optimize its benefits,” she said.
In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said, traditional medicine has always been a part of its history and cultural tradition. "Our government integrated traditional medicine into our National Health Policy of 2011," she mentioned.
“We have officially recognized the potential contribution of Unani, Ayurvedic, and Homeopathic medical services to our efforts in achieving SDG 3,” she said.
She said that there are 73 institutes in Bangladesh that offer four-year diploma courses and four colleges that provide Bachelor's degrees in traditional medicines.
In addition to offering outpatient services by traditional medicine experts, most of the district and sub-district level public health facilities are equipped with medicinal plant gardens, she added.
She mentioned that Bangladesh is looking forward to partnering with the Global Centre on critical issues like quality control, curriculum development and regulatory standards.
“We shall positively consider joint medical research projects in areas of our mutual interest," the prime minister said.
She said that the efforts of the government of India, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic and achieving massive vaccination coverage are really commendable.
She mentioned that Bangladesh has also successfully controlled the pandemic and the first dose of the vaccine covered 100% of the targeted population while the second dose covered 97%.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus also spoke at the program that was held in Gujarat’s Jamnagar in India.
The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is a knowledge centre for traditional medicine.
As part of WHO’s overall traditional medicine strategy, it has a strategic focus on evidence and learning, data and analytics, sustainability and equity, and innovation and technology to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health and sustainable development.
At the same time, respect for local heritage, resources, and rights is a guiding principle.
Now being established with the support of the government of India, Global Centre for Traditional Medicine reflects WHO director-general’s leadership vision that harness the potential of traditional medicine would be a game-changer for health when founded on evidence, innovation, and sustainability.
India is supporting the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat as a global good and in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam: the world is one family, according to the documents on the facility.
