India Launches Workshop to Integrate Traditional Medicine into Global Health
The Ministry of Ayush in India has initiated a five-day workshop aimed at developing the content model for the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) framework established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Running from July 13 to 17, 2026, this workshop seeks to integrate India’s traditional medical systems into the global digital health ecosystem and enhance universal health coverage.
Organized by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) through its WHO Collaborating Centre, the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad, this event brings together top scientific experts, institutional leaders, and international informatics specialists. Their goal is to finalize a comprehensive and scientifically grounded hierarchy of National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC) for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) systems.
This workshop builds on preliminary drafts completed during previous consultations in May 2026. The expert-validated repository currently includes 13 specialties, 76 therapies, and 714 procedures for Ayurveda; 25 specialties, 130 therapies, and 996 procedures for Siddha; and 15 specialties, 179 therapies, and 551 procedures for Unani systems.
Key Insights from the Inaugural Session
During the inaugural session, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, the Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, highlighted the workshop’s strategic significance. He stated, “This initiative is much more than a coding exercise. It represents a transformational step towards positioning India’s traditional medical systems within the global scientific, digital, and policy ecosystem.” Kotecha emphasized that standardized health terminologies would ensure AYUSH interventions become integral to the broader digital health landscape, aligning with modern health informatics standards.
Dr. Kavita Jain, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, elaborated on the long-term benefits of integrating traditional practices into digital documentation and global health frameworks. The session also featured insights from leaders of various research councils, including Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed from CCRUM, Prof. N.J. Muthukumar from CCRS, and Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya from CCRAS, all of whom shared the extensive vetting process that shaped the primary coding drafts.
Further, Dr. Geeta Krishnan from GTMC Jamnagar provided a global perspective on operational contexts, while WHO representatives Dr. Robert Jakob and Dr. Stephane Espinosa stressed the importance of global interoperability within digital informatics.
The formal welcome by Dr. Goli Penchala Prasad, AD I/c of CCRAS-NIIMH in Hyderabad, set a collaborative tone for the event, which was further elaborated upon by Dr. N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General of CCRAS. Srikanth emphasized the vital role of standardized terminology in enhancing scientific credibility across health systems.
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