Traditional and complementary medicine plays a vital role in self-care and in advancing Universal Health Coverage, particularly in contexts where formal healthcare access is limited. These practices empower individuals and communities, drawing on trusted, culturally embedded approaches to health and healing that have been used for generations.

We commend WHO for its strategic emphasis on safety, regulation, and evidence. These are essential pillars for building public trust, ensuring quality, and encouraging innovation in T&CM. Importantly, the integration of T&CM with modern health systems can help strengthen service delivery, alleviate health system burdens, and expand access to care in equitable and sustainable ways.

We respectfully urge that self-care remains a central element of this strategy, recognizing its power to promote autonomy, prevention, and resilience in health systems. We also call for greater investment in research and evidence generation, to support sound policy development and the scaling of effective, people-centered solutions.