Berlin [Germany], November 20 (ANI): India and Germany have strengthened their cooperation in traditional and integrative healthcare during the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine, the Ministry of Ayush said on Thursday.
The meeting, held in Berlin from November 18 to 20, focused on expanding collaboration across three key areas: integrating traditional medicine into public health systems, establishing reimbursement pathways to improve patient access, and enhancing regulatory frameworks for approvals and safety standards. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to developing evidence-based, people-centric traditional medicine practices.
The Indian delegation was led by Monalisha Dash, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Ayush, and included senior officials such as Prof. (Dr.) Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of CCRAS; Dr. Subhash Kaushik, Director General of CCRH; Dr. Koustabha Upadhyay, Adviser at the Ministry of Ayush; and Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director of MDNY.
Germany’s delegation included Paul Zubeil, Head of Division for European and International Health Policy at the Federal Ministry of Health; Prof. Dr. Georg Seifert of the Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine at Charite Berlin; Andrea Galle, CEO of statutory health insurer BKK mkk; and Dr. Jaqueline Wiesner of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).
During their visit, the Indian representatives held a series of high-level engagements with prominent German healthcare and research institutions. These discussions included advancing collaborative research and the proposed MoU between Charite University’s Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine and the Ministry of Ayush.
At Berlin’s Community Hospital Havelhohe, the delegation reviewed integrative care models and research in anthroposophic medicine. A detailed session with the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) explored insurance and reimbursement mechanisms for traditional and integrative medical treatments.
According to the Ministry of Ayush, the meeting reflects India’s broader strategy to globalize Ayush systems, strengthen international partnerships, and develop strong scientific frameworks for integrating traditional medicine into global health systems. “Sustained collaboration with Germany will help accelerate research, regulatory harmonization, and patient access to integrative healthcare solutions rooted in safety, quality, and scientific validation,” the Ministry said. (ANI)
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