India Leads Global Innovation in AI-Driven Traditional Medicine: Featured in WHO’s Landmark Brief

In a major step toward integrating ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a landmark technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine.” This first-of-its-kind document globally acknowledges India's pioneering role in blending Artificial Intelligence (AI) with traditional medical systems, especially through the Ayush framework—an umbrella term encompassing Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.

This recognition comes in response to India’s proposal on the application of AI in traditional medicine, which catalyzed the development of WHO’s inaugural roadmap in this space. Notably, India is the first country to launch a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a globally acclaimed initiative aimed at documenting and protecting centuries-old indigenous medicinal knowledge.

Highlighting India’s robust innovation in this domain, the WHO document showcases several AI-driven advancements across Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. These include diagnostic support systems that integrate traditional diagnostic methods—such as pulse reading, tongue examination, and Prakriti assessment—with machine learning algorithms and deep neural networks to enhance diagnostic accuracy and enable personalized preventive healthcare.

One of the standout innovations is Ayurgenomics—a pathbreaking scientific field that combines genomics (the study of genes and their functions) with Ayurvedic principles. Ayurgenomics uses AI algorithms to analyze an individual's Prakriti (constitution type in Ayurveda) and identify predictive disease markers, thereby enabling customized health recommendations. This fusion of modern molecular science and ancient health philosophy represents a significant step toward evidence-based, personalized medicine.

At the heart of these digital transformations is the Ayush Grid, a comprehensive digital health platform launched in 2018. It serves as the technological foundation for several citizen-centric initiatives, including the SAHI portal (Smart Ayush Health Interface), NAMASTE portal (National AYUSH Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic portal), and the Ayush Research Portal. These platforms are enabling digital consultations, research dissemination, and the promotion of interoperable systems—ensuring seamless integration of traditional medicine with mainstream healthcare.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, hailed WHO’s recognition as a testament to India's commitment to technologically enhancing its traditional medicine systems. He emphasized that these AI-led initiatives are aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, particularly his call at the 2023 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit, where he stated:

“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.”

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, also emphasized that India’s efforts are setting global benchmarks. He noted that WHO has spotlighted AI-based predictive diagnostics, semantic analysis of ancient medical texts, and the Ayurgenomics project, which bridges traditional health wisdom and modern biotechnology. He further added that these initiatives not only preserve and validate India’s traditional knowledge systems, but also advance their global relevance and integration into digital, evidence-based healthcare frameworks.

WHO has also recognized India’s extensive work in decoding the genomic and molecular basis of herbal formulations, paving the way for repurposing them for modern disease conditions. These efforts are supported by AI-powered tools that catalogue, analyze, and semantically map ancient medical texts—making time-tested therapeutic knowledge more accessible to researchers, practitioners, and the global medical community.

Another major development acknowledged in the brief is the use of AI in drug action pathway identification—a process that reveals how medicinal compounds work in the body. India is also conducting comparative studies across systems like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Unani. Furthermore, the development of artificial chemical sensors to assess Rasa (taste), Guna (qualities), and Virya (potency) of substances—key Ayurvedic parameters—has been highlighted as an effort to modernize and scientifically validate traditional formulations.

India's flagship Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is praised in the WHO brief as a global model for the preservation and responsible use of indigenous medical heritage. The TKDL safeguards ancient formulations from biopiracy while enabling regulated global research and application.

In addition to technological strides, the WHO report also touches on India’s growing Ayush market, valued at USD 43.4 billion, illustrating its rising role in driving economic growth and expanding healthcare innovation.

The convergence of AI and traditional medicine, as championed by India, is not just about preserving heritage—it is about transforming global healthcare. With government support, visionary leadership, and scientific commitment, India is leading the charge to establish a digitally empowered, inclusive, and globally accessible traditional healthcare system, aligned with both ancient wisdom and modern science.

Explore more on UPSC Content

Click for Daily Quotes:

Stay updated with the latest news by joining our Telegram channel – The PRESS Pad , and follow us on Instagram and X.