BRDC certifies nine traditional healers in Meghalaya 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 3, 2025

The Bio-Resources Development Centre (BRDC), under the PIP&SD Department, Government of Meghalaya, has certified nine Traditional Community Healthcare Providers (TCHPs) from across the state under the Voluntary Certification Scheme for Traditional Community Healthcare Providers (VCSTCHP) of the Quality Council of India (QCI).

The certification programme, held on July 2 at the Secretariat Wellness Centre, Secretariat Hills, Shillong, is a significant milestone in BRDC’s efforts to preserve, promote, and professionalize traditional healing practices in the state.

The certified healers have been recognized for their expertise in treating common ailments, jaundice, traditional bone setting, and arthritis.

The certification ensures that traditional healing practices adhere to safety standards, building a bridge between indigenous wisdom and contemporary healthcare.

This recognition will also provide the Traditional Healers access to various relevant schemes of the Ministry of AYUSH, GOI.

The event was graced by Dr Joram Beda, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Meghalaya and Director, AYUSH, who commended the roles rendered by BRDC and NECU in streamlining traditional heritage.

He emphasized the need to further encourage R&D in Traditional Medicine sector to catalyse knowledge integration into the formal healthcare.

Gunanka DB, IFS, Additional Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya and Member Secretary of BRDC, highlighted various initiatives taken up by the BRDC in streamlining the Traditional Healing system.

The certification programme is a landmark effort in preserving traditional medical knowledge, which has significantly contributed to rural healthcare.

The certified healers were formally felicitated during the programme, marking a significant step toward institutional recognition of traditional knowledge.

This milestone paves the way for many more traditional healers in the state to be brought under this quality certification framework in the future.