New Delhi [India], December 22 (ANI): The World Health Organization (WHO) and India’s Ministry of AYUSH convened a two-day Technical Project Meeting in the national capital to develop a dedicated Traditional Medicine (TM) module within the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). The meeting, held from December 20 to 21, aims to integrate Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) systems into global healthcare standards.
The initiative follows the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Donor Agreement signed between WHO and the Ministry on May 24, establishing India’s financial and technical support for global recognition of AYUSH systems. The meeting aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to enable these systems to reach a wider international audience in a scientific and standardised manner. In his recent Mann Ki Baat address, Modi noted that the development of an ICHI module would help AYUSH systems gain credibility and recognition worldwide.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH, highlighted that the module would strengthen WHO’s efforts toward inclusive, evidence-based, and safe healthcare. The sessions were chaired by Kavita Garg, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, who led the Indian delegation in developing National Health Intervention Codes for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine.
Experts including Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya (Director General, CCRAS), Prof. NJ Muthukumar (Director General, CCRS), and Dr. Zaheer Ahmad (Director General, CCRUM) contributed to discussions, with participation from representatives of all six WHO regions – AFRO, AMRO, EMRO, EURO, SEARO, and WPRO – ensuring a global perspective. WHO officials from Geneva, including Robert Jakob, Nenad Kostanjsek, Stephane Espinosa, and Dr. Pradeep Dua, led classification discussions. Indian representatives included Dr. Geetha Krishnan (WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, Jamnagar) and Dr. Pawan Kumar Godatwar (WHO SEARO, Delhi).
Member states such as Bhutan, Brazil, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Mauritius, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, the UK, and the USA participated to harmonise national practices and intervention descriptions. Integrating traditional medicine into ICHI is seen as crucial for providing a common language across countries and medical systems, allowing healthcare providers to document, report, and analyse traditional treatment outcomes effectively.
The WHO-led project will follow strict scientific timelines, enabling clinical research, policy support, and expansion of traditional medicine within national health information systems globally. This marks a significant step in placing India’s AYUSH systems on the international health map, promoting their recognition and adoption in global healthcare frameworks.
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