Third BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge and IPR Begins in Goa
By Antara Tripathy,IBG NEWS
Regional Experts Discuss Conservation, Documentation and Equitable Benefit-Sharing of Traditional Knowledge
Goa, September 16, 2026: The Third BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) began in Goa on Wednesday, bringing together experts, government officials and representatives from BIMSTEC member states to discuss the protection, documentation and responsible use of traditional medicine knowledge and biological resources.
Organised by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, with the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, serving as the nodal institute, the two-day conference is being held alongside the Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Nodal Group on Traditional Medicine Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation
Ms. Monalisa Das, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, who chaired the inaugural session, highlighted the role of the BIMSTEC Task Force for Traditional Medicine (BTFTM) in expanding regional cooperation.
She said the working group could support collaboration in areas including research, education, capacity building, standardisation, pharmacopoeial development, regulatory cooperation and knowledge exchange.
She also referred to the proposed BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April 2025.
Protecting Community Knowledge and Genetic Resources
In his inaugural address, Prof. Vaidya P.K. Prajapati, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda, noted the rich diversity of traditional medicine systems, biological resources and community knowledge across the BIMSTEC region.
He said the conference seeks to develop a collaborative approach that can support conservation of traditional knowledge while enabling legitimate research and innovation.
The discussions also emphasise protecting community interests through mechanisms such as prior informed consent, mutually agreed terms and equitable benefit-sharing.
Focus on People’s Health and Traditional Medicine Heritage
Mr. Kadirkamu Kandasamy Yoganaadan, Director – Science, Technology & Innovation and Health and Human Resource Development Division, BIMSTEC, said regional cooperation ultimately aims to improve people’s well-being, strengthen health systems and preserve traditional medicine heritage for future generations.
The technical sessions are examining several interconnected issues, including:
- Documentation of traditional medicine knowledge
- Intellectual property rights
- Genetic resources
- Access and benefit-sharing
- Prior informed consent
- Community rights
- Data management and documentation standards
- WIPO and WHO-related initiatives
- Ethical considerations surrounding emerging technologies
Seven BIMSTEC Nations Share Experiences
Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are participating and sharing information on their respective national policies, legal frameworks and experiences concerning traditional medicine knowledge and related resources.
The conference is also examining the experience of India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), particularly its controlled-access documentation and role in protecting traditional knowledge against inappropriate claims of prior art.
Participants are further discussing how artificial intelligence could be applied to traditional knowledge documentation while addressing intellectual property and ethical concerns.
Nodal Group to Examine Future Cooperation
The Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Nodal Group is focusing on practical mechanisms for regional collaboration, including capacity building, expert networks, common documentation standards, data management and potential cooperation frameworks.
Recommendations emerging from the conference discussions are expected to be drafted to strengthen regional cooperation in the conservation and responsible use of traditional medicine knowledge.
Prof. Dr. Sujata Kadam, Dean, All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa, emphasised that each BIMSTEC member state possesses a traditional knowledge heritage developed across generations. She also thanked participating delegates, experts and institutions for their contributions to the event.
The conference is scheduled to conclude on September 17, 2026.
By Antara Tripathy,IBG NEWS
