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AYUSH Systems Move Towards Global Digital Health Integration
ANYTIME NEWS NETWORK | Pooja Srivastava
India’s Ministry of AYUSH has taken a major step towards integrating traditional medicine systems with global healthcare standards through a two-day high-level consultation meeting held on May 25–26, 2026. The discussions focused on developing the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) and National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC) for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems.
The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) following a landmark agreement between the Ministry of AYUSH and WHO. The aim is to create a globally standardized coding system for traditional Indian medical interventions, allowing smoother international data exchange, stronger clinical research, insurance integration, and better interoperability within digital health systems.
The meeting was chaired by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, who emphasized the importance of aligning traditional medicine practices with international healthcare documentation and digital standards. He stated that the initiative would strengthen the credibility and scientific recognition of AYUSH systems worldwide.
Separate technical sessions were conducted for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems, where experts reviewed hierarchical coding directories and intervention classifications. Detailed presentations were delivered by senior officials and researchers from various AYUSH research councils.
International experts from WHO’s Data Standards and Informatics team also participated in the discussions and shared inputs on technical requirements and future roadmaps for aligning Indian traditional medicine systems with global health informatics standards.
Around 30 scientists and experts from leading institutions including CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRS, AIIA, and ITRA participated in the review process. The draft framework prepared during the consultation will now serve as the foundation for the upcoming WHO-ICHI ASU Alpha Draft Editorial Workshop scheduled for July 2026.
Officials believe the initiative will significantly improve the global acceptance of India’s traditional healthcare systems while supporting evidence-based medicine, digital documentation, and cross-border healthcare collaboration.
