Page 6 - Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report

Foreword from the Secretary General of BIMSTEC

It gives me great pleasure to be associated with the publication titled “Traditional
Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report”, developed by the

BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM). This document provides a
compilation of the traditional medicine systems across BIMSTEC countries. It encompasses

national policies, the current status of traditional medicine in each country, and notable
best practices derived from the BIMSTEC member countries.

The journey of collaboration in traditional medicine under the Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) began

officially when Thailand hosted the inaugural BIMSTEC Network of National Centres
of Coordination in Traditional Medicine (BNNCCTM) in 2006. To intensify and

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streamline cooperation within this realm, the 17 Session of the BIMSTEC Senior
Officials’ Meeting endorsed the establishment of the BIMSTEC Task Force on

Traditional Medicine (BTFTM), along with the corresponding Terms of Reference which
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had been finalised during the 3 Meeting of the BNNCCTM held in Nonthaburi,
Thailand, in July 2015. The role of BNNCCTM was therefore concluded at the fourth
meeting in 2019 due to overlapping mandates and activities.

The core objective of the BTFTM is to facilitate the collaboration and the exchange
of knowledge and expertise among member states, particularly in the realms of traditional

medicine research and development, regulation, education, and the protection of traditional
medical knowledge and genetic resources. India spearheaded the inaugural meeting of

BTFTM in 2017, with subsequent meetings convened by Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 respectively.

The establishment of the BTFTM reflects the growing recognition of the potential
of traditional medicine in promoting public health and well-being, emphasising the

significance of regional cooperation in this domain. Thus, to strengthen this collaboration
and to implement the Plan of Action for the Development of Traditional Medicine, the

Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Public Health
of Thailand organised the “Fifth Meeting of BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine”

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from June 26 to 28 , 2023, in Nonthaburi.

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