WHO and India Unite to Bring Ayush into Global Health Fold

Key Takeaways:

• India-WHO partnership integrates Ayush into global medical classifications.
• Traditional medicine to benefit from standardisation, insurance inclusion, and clinical documentation.
• India contributes $3 million to WHO’s traditional medicine initiatives.

In a landmark development for India’s traditional medicine sector, the Ministry of Ayush has entered into a formal partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to integrate Ayush practices into the global healthcare system.

Signed on May 24, 2025, the agreement paves the way for the creation of a dedicated Traditional Medicine module under the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), a companion framework to WHO’s widely used International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the development during the 122nd edition of his Mann Ki Baat radio address, highlighting the scientific and global credibility this collaboration is expected to bring. He underscored its potential to position therapies such as Panchakarma, Yoga therapy, Siddha procedures, and Unani regimen within internationally recognised healthcare standards.

The incorporation of traditional medicine into the ICHI mechanism should promote better visibility and legitimacy for Ayush systems on the global stage. It should make healthcare management easier.

The Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pleased to celebrate this collaboration, also highlighted India offering WHO USD 3 million in support of WHO's traditional medicine work as evidence of India's ambition for inclusive and a global health agenda.

This agreement materialises India's broader aspiration to have its ancient systems of healing as a credentialed, legitimate and structured component of global healthcare delivery.