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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 WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which were formally acknowledged at the Closing Ceremony of the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in New Delhi on 19 December 2024. Submitted by Dr. Ajay, President of IAADS, the presentation took place 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, highlighting 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

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.


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