Skip to main content

IAADS SMART Commitments Presented at the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine


The Indian Association of Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (IAADS) submitted its SMART Commitments in support of the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which were formally acknowledged during the Closing Ceremony of the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi on 19 December 2024. Submitted by the Dr.Ajay, President of IAADS in the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister of India, the WHO Director-General, and the Honourable Union Ministers for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH, these commitments underscore India’s leadership in ethical, community-based Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM).


The Indian Association of Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (IAADS) is honoured to share that its SMART Commitments were among sixty global commitments submitted in support of the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.

These commitments were formally acknowledged during the Closing Ceremony of the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in New Delhi on 19 December 2024. The submission was made on behalf of IAADS by its President, marking a significant milestone for the organisation and for the broader TCIM community in India.

The ceremony took place in the august presence of the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji, alongside the Director-General of the World Health Organization, and the Honourable Union Ministers for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH—underscoring the growing global recognition of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM).

IAADS and Its Commitment to TCIM

IAADS has long been engaged in promoting Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, particularly through the NADA ear acupuncture protocol for addiction treatment, rehabilitation, and trauma-informed care. The association focuses on expanding barrier-free, community-based services for marginalized populations by supporting peer-led and holistic interventions.

Its ongoing work includes advocacy for Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (ADS), capacity building of counselors, social workers, peer counselors, and health professionals trained under NADA norms, as well as strengthening quality standards of practice across India. IAADS also advances education and research in holistic health, addiction recovery, and ethics, while maintaining a national register of NADA-certified ADS.

IAADS SMART Commitments: Aligned with WHO’s Global Strategy

IAADS’ commitments align with multiple strategic objectives of the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, particularly:

  • Strategic Objective 2: Supporting safe and effective TCIM through appropriate regulatory mechanisms

  • Strategic Objective 3: Integrating TCIM into health systems, especially primary and community-based care

SMART Commitment 1 — Regulation & Safety

Target Completion: December 2027

IAADS commits to strengthening the quality and safety of TCIM-based addiction services in India by:

  • Developing standardised ethical practice and safety guidelines for NADA-based ear acupuncture delivered by ADS

  • Establishing a national registry and minimum competency framework for at least 500 NADA-trained Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists

  • Conducting annual CME-accredited safety trainings for a minimum of 300 ADS, counselors, and peer practitioners, with structured monitoring of protocol adherence and adverse-event reporting

SMART Commitment 2 — Integration into Health Systems

Implementation Period: 2025–2029

IAADS will support the integration of NADA ear acupuncture into at least 30 government, NGO, and peer-led addiction and mental health programmes across India by:

  • Supporting service delivery through trained ADS teams

  • Establishing functional referral linkages with biomedical and psychosocial services

  • Collecting standardised service and outcome data—including reach, retention, and acceptability—to demonstrate feasibility, scalability, and the contribution of TCIM within community-based health systems

Implementation Approach and Sustainability

IAADS will not provide direct financial investment for these commitments. Instead, implementation will be driven through in-kind and time-based contributions, including voluntary leadership, technical expertise, mentorship, supervision, and coordination provided by IAADS members.

The association will collaborate closely with Nada India Foundation, as well as CSR partners and philanthropic donors and Vidya Lead Academy, to mobilise external financial support for training, implementation, monitoring, and documentation. This collaborative approach ensures feasibility and sustainability despite the absence of core institutional funding.

Monitoring Progress and Accountability

Progress will be tracked through clear, verifiable indicators, including:

  • Number of ethical and safety guidelines developed and disseminated

  • Number of ADS registered in the national IAADS registry (target: ≥500 by 2027)

  • Number of CME-accredited safety trainings and practitioners trained (target: ≥300)

  • Number of programmes integrating NADA ear acupuncture (target: ≥30 by 2029)

  • Existence of referral pathways with biomedical and psychosocial services

  • Annual review of service delivery and outcome data to inform scale-up and policy dialogue

A Milestone for Ethical and Community-Based TCIM

The acknowledgement of IAADS’ SMART Commitments at a global platform reflects a growing consensus: traditional medicine, when ethical, evidence-informed, and community-rooted, has a vital role to play in public health.

This moment marks a significant step forward for the integration of TCIM into India’s health systems, particularly in the areas of addiction treatment, mental health, and community wellbeing.


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

NADA beads means "No Tension"

A 15 year old girl from Bapu Sambhu camp, Delhi sharing her experience with one of the peer educators. I have used beads 10-12 times and every time I feel as my tension in my mind is reduced, mind becomes light and calm. I feel that all my work will be completed.  No tension whenever I use beads. It becomes easy to study and remember chapters. All my work becomes easy and mind remains cool. I even take interest in my household chores and perform better and with ease. It helps me to sleep better. No tension and worries about the future, that what will happen to me in future. Absolutely, no tension!
Read more

The Future of Quitting: NADA Protocol and AI Transform Tobacco Cessation

Tobacco Cessation: From Inner Calm to AI-Driven Solutions —  A Path Shaped by NADA protocol In an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and digital innovations, tobacco cessation strategies must evolve to address both emotional and technological dimensions. While AI-powered conversational solutions offer promising avenues to assist individuals in quitting tobacco and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the most profound change often begins internally.  As Dr. Michael O. Smith, founder of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), aptly stated, “NADA acupuncture teaches us to relax from the inside out.”  This internal transformation is crucial. Individuals, particularly adolescents, youth, women, and marginalized communities, often grapple with stress, trauma, or stigma, making discussions about tobacco use, mental health, or domestic violence challenging. To surmount these barriers, a fusion of compassionate, community-based met...
Read more

Celebrating 50 Years of the NADA Protocol

  This milestone celebrates not just the protocol but the spirit of resilience and hope it embodies. A must-watch for those inspired by stories of change, equity, and healing! Celebrating 50 Years of the NADA Protocol A remarkable journey of healing and empowerment! A new film captures the incredible legacy and worldwide acceptance of the NADA Protocol, pioneered by the visionary Dr. Michael O. Smith in the U.S. The documentary highlights the profound impact of this ear acupuncture technique on communities globally, including its inspiring adoption in India. I feel privileged to have shared moments with Dr. Michael O. Smith during his numerous visits to India and with Dr. Khensu Carter, who accompanied him. My last meeting with Dr. Carter, a practicing psychiatrist and professor at UCLA Psychiatry, was in New York in 2018. The film also delves into Dr. Carter's reflections on the emergence of movements like the Black Panthers and the Young Lords and their intersection with the NADA...
Read more