New Delhi: In a landmark acknowledgment of India’s innovative strides in healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the country’s leadership in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with traditional medicine, particularly the Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy). This recognition was detailed in WHO’s first-ever technical brief, titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine (TM)”, released on July 12, 2025, following India’s proposal on the subject. The brief, developed under the Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H)—a collaborative effort by WHO, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)—highlights India’s groundbreaking initiatives in leveraging AI to advance traditional medicine.
India’s Vision for AI in Traditional Medicine
India’s efforts align with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has championed the use of AI for social development and inclusive growth. Speaking at the 2023 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit, Modi emphasized, “We have developed government policies and programmes inspired by the spirit of ‘AI for all’. Our endeavour is to take full advantage of the capabilities of AI for social development and inclusive growth.” This vision has propelled India to the forefront of digital health innovation, particularly in integrating AI with the Ayush systems.
The WHO brief underscores India’s pioneering role in creating a robust scientific ecosystem for traditional medicine. Union Minister of State for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, hailed the recognition as a testament to India’s commitment to advancing traditional medicine through cutting-edge technology. “This recognition underscores our alignment with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s visionary call to harness emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to expand the global relevance of Traditional Medicine,” Jadhav stated. He highlighted that India’s AI-led initiatives, including digital platforms like the SAHI Portal, NAMASTE Portal, and Ayush Research Portal, are preserving centuries-old medical wisdom while shaping a future of personalized, evidence-based, and globally accessible healthcare.
AI Applications Transforming Ayush Systems
The WHO technical brief details several AI-driven applications revolutionizing India’s Ayush systems. These innovations span diagnostics, research, and preservation of traditional knowledge, positioning India as a global leader in AI-enabled healthcare.
Smarter Diagnosis with AI
AI is enhancing diagnostic accuracy by combining traditional techniques such as pulse reading, tongue analysis, and Prakriti assessment with advanced machine learning and deep neural networks. These AI-powered diagnostic systems enable personalized preventive care, offering tailored health recommendations based on individual constitutions. By integrating traditional methods with modern technology, India is improving the precision and accessibility of Ayush-based healthcare.
Ayurgenomics: A Fusion of Tradition and Science
One of the standout innovations highlighted by WHO is Ayurgenomics, a groundbreaking initiative that merges Ayurvedic principles with genomics. Using AI, Ayurgenomics identifies predictive disease markers and personalizes health advice based on an individual’s Ayurvedic constitution (Prakriti). This approach bridges traditional wisdom with modern science, enabling the repurposing of herbal formulations for contemporary medical conditions. The WHO brief praises Ayurgenomics as a scientific breakthrough, showcasing India’s ability to integrate ancient knowledge with cutting-edge technology.
Decoding Drug Action Pathways
AI is also being used to identify drug action pathways, particularly in evaluating traditional Ayurvedic concepts like Rasa (taste), Guna (qualities), and Virya (potency). Artificial chemical sensors developed through AI are modernizing the assessment of these parameters, validating and enhancing traditional formulations. Additionally, AI facilitates comparative studies across traditional systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Unani, fostering a deeper understanding of their therapeutic potential.
Cataloguing Ancient Knowledge
India’s AI-powered tools are revolutionizing the preservation and accessibility of traditional medical knowledge. The WHO brief commends the use of AI for semantic analysis and cataloguing of ancient texts, making time-tested therapeutic knowledge more accessible to practitioners and researchers worldwide. This effort ensures that India’s rich medical heritage is preserved and utilized responsibly.
India’s Digital Infrastructure for Ayush
The WHO brief highlights India’s robust digital infrastructure, which underpins its AI-driven innovations in traditional medicine. Key initiatives include:
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
India is the first country to launch a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a global model for preserving indigenous medical heritage. The TKDL digitizes traditional medicine practices from Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Yoga, protecting them from biopiracy and ensuring responsible use. The WHO praises the TKDL as a pioneering effort to safeguard and promote traditional knowledge.
Ayush Grid: A Digital Health Powerhouse
Launched in 2018, the Ayush Grid is a central digital platform that supports several citizen-centric initiatives. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, emphasized its significance, stating, “The WHO document highlights several pioneering AI-driven innovations led by India—ranging from predictive diagnostics using Prakriti-based machine learning models to the groundbreaking Ayurgenomics project. At the core of this digital transformation is the Ayush Grid.” The platform includes:
- AYUSH Health Management Information System (AHMIS): A cloud-based system used by clinical establishments to streamline healthcare delivery.
- SAHI Portal: Focuses on standardizing Ayurveda health information.
- NAMASTE Portal: Facilitates traditional medicine services.
- Ayush Research Portal: Provides centralized access to research on traditional medicine.
- Mobile Apps: The Ayush Sanjivani and Yoga Locator apps enhance accessibility to traditional medicine and yoga services.
These platforms promote digital literacy among Ayush practitioners, enable online consultations, and build interoperable systems to integrate traditional medicine with mainstream healthcare.
Economic Impact of the Ayush Sector
The WHO brief also recognizes the Ayush sector’s significant contribution to India’s economy, with a market size of USD 43.4 billion. This economic impact underscores the sector’s role in driving growth while advancing healthcare innovation. By leveraging AI, India is not only preserving its traditional medical systems but also positioning them as a cornerstone of its economic and healthcare landscape.
Challenges in AI Integration
Despite these advancements, the WHO brief identifies key challenges in integrating AI with traditional medicine:
- Biopiracy Risk: Indigenous knowledge and resources are at risk of misuse without proper consent, necessitating robust data governance frameworks to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- Digital Gaps: Poor infrastructure and low digital literacy in some regions limit the accessibility and adoption of AI tools.
- Lack of Quality Data: AI relies on large, reliable datasets, which are often lacking in traditional medicine, posing challenges to developing effective AI models.
- Localization vs. Integration: Balancing the local relevance of AI tools with global standardization remains a complex task.
To address these challenges, the WHO recommends adapting its guidance on frontier technologies to the unique needs of traditional medicine systems. This includes building strong data governance frameworks and fostering global cooperation to ensure responsible innovation.
Global Leadership and Collaboration
India’s leadership in AI and traditional medicine extends beyond its borders. The country’s participation in the 2023 GPAI Summit, a multi-stakeholder initiative, reflects its commitment to bridging the gap between AI theory and practice. The WHO brief emphasizes the importance of global collaboration to harness AI’s potential in traditional medicine, with India leading the way through initiatives like the TKDL and Ayush Grid.
Official Statements and Future Outlook
Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav reiterated India’s commitment to advancing traditional medicine through technology. “By integrating AI with Ayush systems—and through pioneering digital platforms—India is not only safeguarding its centuries-old medical wisdom but also leading the way in shaping a future of personalized, evidence-based, and globally accessible healthcare,” he said.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha echoed this sentiment, highlighting the transformative potential of India’s AI-driven innovations. “Together, these AI-enabled platforms are not only preserving and validating India’s traditional knowledge systems of medicine but are also advancing their global integration within evidence-based, digital healthcare frameworks,” he stated.
Conclusion
The WHO’s recognition of India’s efforts in integrating AI with traditional medicine marks a significant milestone in global healthcare innovation. Through initiatives like Ayurgenomics, the TKDL, and the Ayush Grid, India is preserving its ancient medical heritage while embracing cutting-edge technology. These efforts are not only enhancing diagnostic accuracy and personalizing healthcare but also positioning India as a global leader in digital health innovation. As the country continues to address challenges like biopiracy and digital gaps, its commitment to responsible innovation and global collaboration sets a powerful example for the world. With a USD 43.4 billion Ayush market and a visionary approach to AI, India is paving the way for a future where traditional wisdom and modern science converge to create a healthier, more inclusive world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the significance of WHO’s recognition of India’s efforts in integrating AI with traditional medicine?
The World Health Organization’s recognition, detailed in its technical brief “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine” released on July 12, 2025, highlights India’s leadership in combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy). This acknowledgment, prompted by India’s proposal, underscores the country’s pioneering role in creating a scientific ecosystem that preserves traditional medical wisdom while advancing personalized, evidence-based healthcare through AI-driven innovations like Ayurgenomics and the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL).
2. How is AI being used in India’s Ayush systems?
AI is transforming Ayush systems through applications like smarter diagnostics, which combine traditional methods such as pulse reading, tongue analysis, and Prakriti assessment with machine learning and deep neural networks for improved accuracy. Ayurgenomics merges Ayurvedic principles with genomics to identify disease markers and personalize health recommendations. AI also aids in decoding drug action pathways, developing artificial chemical sensors for traditional parameters like Rasa, Guna, and Virya, and cataloguing ancient texts for better accessibility.
3. What is the Ayush Grid, and how does it support AI integration?
Launched in 2018, the Ayush Grid is a central digital platform that underpins India’s AI-driven innovations in traditional medicine. It supports initiatives like the AYUSH Health Management Information System (AHMIS), SAHI Portal for standardizing Ayurveda health information, NAMASTE Portal for traditional medicine services, and the Ayush Research Portal for centralized research access. Mobile apps like Ayush Sanjivani and Yoga Locator further enhance accessibility, promoting digital literacy among practitioners and integrating traditional medicine with mainstream healthcare.
4. What challenges does India face in integrating AI with traditional medicine?
The WHO brief identifies several challenges, including the risk of biopiracy, where indigenous knowledge may be misused without consent; digital gaps due to poor infrastructure and low digital literacy; a lack of large, reliable datasets essential for AI development; and the difficulty of balancing local relevance with global standardization of AI tools. Addressing these requires robust data governance, improved infrastructure, and global cooperation to ensure responsible innovation.
5. How does India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) contribute to global healthcare?
The TKDL, recognized by WHO as a global model, digitizes traditional medicine practices from Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Yoga, protecting them from biopiracy and ensuring responsible use. By using AI for semantic analysis and cataloguing of ancient texts, the TKDL makes therapeutic knowledge more accessible to researchers and practitioners worldwide, preserving India’s medical heritage while advancing its integration into evidence-based, digital healthcare frameworks.
