Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, emphasized the critical need for balance in global health systems, despite significant medical and scientific advancements. In his address following the first plenary session of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit in Delhi, he highlighted the interconnectedness between individual health, societal well-being, and the health of the planet.
Dr. Piukala articulated a comprehensive vision of health that honors traditional medicine systems—particularly those in the Pacific—where a harmonious balance between the mind, body, community, and nature is vital for overall wellness. He noted with irony that even in an era of extraordinary progress, the world is marked by profound imbalances affecting health outcomes.
He pointed out disparities in access to healthcare, the valuation of different types of medical knowledge, and the severe depletion of biodiversity. Dr. Piukala stressed that often marginalized communities, particularly indigenous peoples, are the least benefited by their own traditional knowledge, a situation deeply rooted in historical and structural inequities.
Drawing connections to historical context, he cited colonization, industrialization, and exploitative economic systems as long-standing contributors to these disparities. He argued that addressing these deep-seated issues is essential in restoring balance.
Dr. Piukala advocates for a renewed vision of health that is holistic and founded on equity and respect. He stressed the importance of collaboration between traditional medicine, scientific innovation, and modern health systems to create a more inclusive healthcare framework.
He called upon global leaders to rethink and redesign health systems with balance in mind, pondering how global health would look if economic, ecological, and scientific systems were aligned with the needs of people and nature.
In closing, he emphasized that the task of restoring balance represents both a challenge and a significant opportunity for collective healing, echoing the sentiment that individual balance contributes to the broader healing of the world.