WHO, Ministry of Ayush Collaborate to Integrate Traditional Medicine into Global Health Standards

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush recently conducted a two-day technical meeting in New Delhi to discuss integrating traditional medicine into global health intervention standards. The meeting, held on December 20-21, aimed to establish an intervention code. This initiative stemmed from a significant Memorandum of Understanding and Donor Agreement signed between the Ministry of Ayush and WHO in May. The agreement laid the foundation for creating a dedicated Traditional Medicine module within the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), a global standard for classifying healthcare interventions. India is providing both financial and technical support to bring ayurveda, siddha, and unani (ASU) systems into mainstream global healthcare. Integrating traditional medicine into ICHI is crucial as it allows for a common language for health procedures across different countries and medical systems. Standardizing these codes enables healthcare providers to better document, report, and analyze the frequency and effectiveness of traditional treatments. The technical sessions were overseen by Kavita Garg, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, who led the development of National Health Intervention Codes for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine. The meeting witnessed broad participation from all six WHO regions, ensuring a comprehensive global perspective on traditional medicine. Member states such as Bhutan, Brazil, India, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Mauritius, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, the UK, and the US participated to assess their country status and align intervention descriptions. The project will be managed by the WHO with strict timelines, focusing on a scientific approach. It is expected to support clinical research, policy development, and the integration of traditional medicine into national health information systems worldwide.