India is strengthening its role in shaping global standards for traditional medicine, with the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), under the Ministry of Ayush, participating in the 5th World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Meeting on the Development of the International Herbal Pharmacopoeia.

The three-day meeting, being held from June 16 to 18, 2026, in Hong Kong SAR, China, has brought together experts from WHO Member States to discuss scientific standards, quality benchmarks and regulatory frameworks for herbal medicines worldwide.

Dr Raman Mohan Singh, Director of PCIM&H, is representing India as an expert member at the international meeting. A technical team from PCIM&H, including Dr Jayanthy A, Principal Scientific Officer (Pharmacognosy), Dr Vijay Gupta, Principal Scientific Officer (Ayurveda), Dr Anupam Maurya, Scientific Officer (Chemistry), Dr V. Vijayakumar, Scientific Officer (Siddha), and Dr Nikhil Jirankalgikar, Scientific Officer (Ayurveda), is also participating virtually.

During the meeting, PCIM&H is presenting herbal monographs and related scientific documents prepared in consultation with the WHO team. These documents will undergo detailed review and discussions among global experts to support the development of internationally accepted standards for herbal medicines.

The participation marks an important step towards aligning India’s traditional medicine systems with global quality, safety and purity standards. It also reflects efforts to harmonise herbal medicine practices with internationally recognised pharmacopoeial guidelines.

India’s contribution to the International Herbal Pharmacopoeia highlights the country’s growing leadership in traditional and herbal healthcare. Through active engagement with global health organisations, India aims to promote evidence-based approaches and strengthen the credibility and acceptance of traditional medicine systems worldwide.