KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, expressed the commitment that the Nepal government would increase investment in the development and expansion of traditional medicines.

Addressing the plenary session of the Traditional Medicine Global Summit organized by the WHO and co-hosted by the government of India at Gandhinagar of Gujarat State in India, Minister Basnet said 80 percent Nepali population is still residing in rural areas and they are using traditional medicine in one way or another.

“It is high time to develop and expand traditional medicine. We should not delay anymore,” asserted Minister Basnet.

The event is attended by the Health Ministers of G-20 and high-level invitees from countries across the WHO’s six regions.

Participants also include scientists, practitioners of traditional medicine, health workers and members of the civil society.

Stating that all countries in the world had their own experiences in the field of traditional medicine, Minister Basnet said that the need of the hour was to exchange knowledge and experience and collaborate to manufacture traditional medicines as well as Ayurvedic medicines.