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Advancing Universal Health Coverage Through Traditional Medicine: 4th National Acupuncture Science Congress to Spotlight Safe, Ethical & Evidence-Informed Integrative Care

 Curtain Raiser

4th National Acupuncture Science Congress to Highlight the Role of Traditional Medicine in Advancing Universal Health Coverage

Bengaluru | Kerala | Tamil Nadu |May 2026

At a time when the global health community is rethinking the future of healthcare systems under growing pressure of chronic diseases, mental health concerns, addiction, workforce shortages, and rising inequities, the 4th National Acupuncture Science Congress being organized by FAST Board Bangalore and KUG Oriental Academy Kerala is expected to bring renewed focus on the role of safe, ethical, evidence-informed, and people-centered Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in India.

The Congress comes in the backdrop of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in Geneva, where Member States are discussing the implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 — a landmark framework adopted during WHA78 to strengthen integration of traditional medicine into health systems while ensuring quality, safety, ethics, and evidence-based practice.

According to the World Health Organization:

  • 88% of WHO Member States report the use of Traditional Medicine,
  • nearly 40–99% of people globally use Traditional Medicine as part of healthcare,
  • yet less than 1% of global health research funding is dedicated to Traditional Medicine research.

The Congress aims to strengthen scientific dialogue, practitioner competencies, public trust, and interdisciplinary collaboration in acupuncture and integrative care systems in India.

A major highlight of the Congress will be the growing national collaboration between FAST Board, Nada India Foundation, Vidya Lead Academy, and the Indian Association of Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (IAADS) to strengthen ethical and community-centered integrative behavioral health approaches in India.

The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between FAST Board, Nada India Foundation, and Vidya Lead Academy has been described as a landmark step toward:

  • strengthening ethical and safe acupuncture practices,
  • promoting evidence-informed integrative care,
  • developing practitioner competencies,
  • and building community-centered behavioral health and addiction recovery systems.

The collaboration also aligns with Vidya Lead Academy’s SMART Commitments formally acknowledged during the Closing Ceremony of the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi in December 2025 in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, WHO Director-General, and Union Ministers for Health & Family Welfare and AYUSH.

The SMART Commitments focus on:

  • ethical and safe delivery of NADA-based ear acupuncture,
  • practitioner competence and supervision,
  • evidence-informed practice,
  • peer-led recovery-oriented approaches,
  • and strengthening community trust in TCIM services.
Prof. Dr. A.R. Samiullah and Dr. Ummer Gurukkal believe that the Congress can contribute toward strengthening dialogue on how Traditional Medicine can support:
  • primary healthcare,
  • behavioral health,
  • addiction recovery,
  • chronic stress management,
  • and people-centered Universal Health Coverage in India.

The Congress is expected to bring together practitioners, researchers, educators, public health professionals, rehabilitation workers, and students from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and other parts of the country.

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