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| Professor Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency |
••••As UN Health Body Unveils Landmark Traditional, Complementary, Integrative Medicine
WHO has selected Nigeria’s Professor Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, as Co-Chair of its newly established Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM).
Professor Emeje was appointed alongside Dr Susan Wieland of Cochrane Complementary Medicine to Co-Chair STAG-TM which coincided with the unveiling of the historic Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine.
The appointment of Professor Emeje, and Dr Wieland, Director underscores World Health Organisation, WHO’s commitment to balanced, inclusive and scientifically rigorous leadership in advancing traditional medicine.
Both figures bring longstanding expertise in evidence-based research and innovation in natural products, reflecting the Group’s mission to uphold scientific excellence.
The United Nations health body while announcing the creation of STAG-TM, stressed that the move is part of its Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, describing it as a decisive step in applying scientific rigour to traditional medicine.
“This is a pivotal moment for traditional medicine. It embodies cultural heritage and national health identities, and increasingly, it constitutes a vital component of primary health care strategies,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health System, Access and Data.
Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist, emphasised the urgency of the initiative: “Its rapid growth has not always been matched by strong evidence standards, regulatory frameworks or sustainable governance. The STAG-TM was created to close this gap. It is not an academic exercise, but a formal WHO advisory mechanism providing independent, strategic and scientific guidance to help Member States navigate an increasingly complex and evolving field.”
The 19-member Group, appointed through an open global selection process, represents diverse expertise and ensures balanced geographic and gender representation.
Members will serve two-year terms, convening annually and working through thematic sub-groups on evidence generation, regulation, integration and collaboration.
At its inaugural meeting in New Delhi on 17 December 2025, held alongside the second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, STAG-TM identified urgent priorities: methodological innovations and evidence generation.
Others are preservation and documentation of traditional knowledge; digitalisation and innovation; and capacity building with community engagement.
WHO confirmed that next steps include drafting the STAG-TM workplan for 2026–2027, developing thematic areas, establishing focused sub-groups, and initiating consultations to advance these priorities.
