The 16th WHO–IRCH Annual Meeting began in Jakarta on October 14, bringing together global regulators to strengthen cooperation on herbal medicine regulation.
India’s high-level delegation, led by Dr. Raghu Arackal from the Ministry of Ayush, is playing a central role in shaping the dialogue.
The Indian team includes Dr. Raman Mohan Singh of the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and Dr. Mahesh Dadhich of the National Medicinal Plants Board. Their presence underscores India’s commitment to harmonizing global standards for the safety, quality, and efficacy of herbal medicines.
On October 13, the delegation met Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Sandeep Chakravorty, to discuss India’s participation and the implementation of a bilateral MoU signed earlier this year with Indonesia’s FDA. The agreement focuses on quality assurance, technical exchange, and capacity building in traditional medicine.
Dr. Arackal presented India’s progress in herbal medicine regulation, highlighting policy reforms and international collaborations led by the Ministry of Ayush. His address emphasized India’s proactive role in global health governance.
The event also saw the release of proceedings from two WHO–IRCH working groups, based on a workshop hosted in Ghaziabad in August. These documents focus on safety, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines.
India continues to emerge as a global leader in herbal medicine regulation, reinforcing its influence in shaping international standards and promoting traditional medicine systems worldwide.
