The World Health Organization opened its first summit on traditional medicine on Thursday, as the group said it was seeking to collect evidence and data, in order to allow safe use of such treatments.

This was revealed by the Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressing that traditional medicines are a "first port of call for millions of people worldwide”. He said; “with the talks in India bringing together policymakers and academics aiming to "mobilise political commitment and evidence-based action" towards them.

"WHO is working to build the evidence and data to inform policies, standards and regulations for the safe, cost-effective and equitable use of traditional medicine".

The WHO boss added that traditional medicine could boost healthcare "access gaps", but was of value when used "appropriately, effectively, and above all, safely based on the latest scientific evidence".

Access24 reports that the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit takes place alongside a meeting of G20 health ministers in the Indian city of Gandhinagar.

The summit, set to become a regular event, follows the opening last year of a WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, also in India's Gujarat state.