Kenya is in talks for a high-level collaboration with India on traditional medicine as both nations prepare for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Traditional Medicine Global Summit scheduled for December 17 to 19 in New Delhi.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, confirmed that he held a high-level meeting with India’s High Commissioner Dr Adarsh Swaika in preparation for the WHO summit.
The meeting included India’s Second Secretaries Amardeep Barnwal and Rishabh Rewar, alongside PS for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni.
He said the summit will focus on improving global standards, research, and regulation, noting that Kenya hopes to benefit from India’s long-established expertise in traditional and complementary medicine.
Duale explained that the meeting with India’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr Adarsh Swaika, marked a new phase of structured cooperation aimed at enhancing patient safety and expanding access to credible traditional therapies.
He stated that Kenya intends to strengthen its regulatory environment to ensure practitioners operate within clear legal frameworks.
“No unregistered or rogue practitioners will be allowed to operate outside the law. Anyone facilitating illegal medical activities will face full regulatory and legal action,” Cautioned Duale.
He added that the government is prioritising evidence-based practices, further noting that the summit’s theme, “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being,” aligns with Kenya’s goal to advance Universal Health Coverage.
Duale highlighted that Kenya and India already enjoy strong ties in specialised treatment, pharmaceutical partnerships, and joint medical training programmes.
He revealed that the government plans to grow these engagements, primarily through expanded fellowships and skills transfer in areas such as oncology, nephrology, biomedical engineering, mental health, and vaccine technology.
Duale emphasised the country’s potential to become a regional hub for high-quality healthcare, urging credible Indian hospitals to invest locally.
“With the right partnerships, we can reduce outbound medical travel and build a competitive medical tourism sector,” stated Duale.
He reaffirmed that Kenya’s regulatory system remains firm, noting that patient safety, public protection, and the integrity of the health sector remain non-negotiable.
