India Moves to Integrate ASU Systems into Global Health Classification Framework

The initiative follows a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and donor agreement signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO.

India has taken a major step toward integrating its traditional systems of medicine into the global healthcare ecosystem, with the Ministry of Ayush initiating work on internationally standardised coding systems for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) medical interventions in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Ministry of Ayush recently organised a high-level review meeting and technical consultation focused on developing the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) and National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC) for India's traditional medicine systems.

The two-day meeting, held online on 25–26 May 2026, brought together senior government officials, WHO experts, researchers, scientists, and technical specialists to advance efforts aimed at creating globally recognised intervention classifications for traditional Indian medicine.

Major Push to Standardise Traditional Medicine Globally

The initiative follows a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and donor agreement signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO.

Officials said the project aims to integrate traditional medicine interventions into the WHO's International Classification of Health Interventions framework — an internationally recognised health informatics system used for standardising healthcare procedures and interventions across countries.

The objective is to create a scientifically validated and globally accepted coding vocabulary for:

• Ayurveda

• Siddha

• Unani

clinical interventions.

Authorities believe this could significantly improve:

• International data exchange

• Clinical documentation

• Research standardisation

• Digital health interoperability

• Health insurance integration

• Global recognition of traditional medicine systems

Government Highlights Strategic Importance of Initiative

The meeting was chaired by Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, who described the initiative as a major milestone in strengthening the global integration of India's traditional medicine systems.

He stressed that internationally aligned intervention classifications would help traditional medicine become more compatible with modern digital healthcare systems and global medical data standards.

According to the Ministry, standardised coding systems are increasingly essential for:

• Electronic health records

• Digital healthcare systems

• Medical research databases

• Insurance processing

• Public health reporting

• Cross-border healthcare interoperability

Officials said the move will also support evidence-based documentation and improve the scientific visibility of traditional Indian healthcare practices internationally.

Technical Discussions Focus on Four-Level Coding Framework

The inaugural session featured participation from senior officials of the Ministry of Ayush, WHO representatives, and heads of India's major traditional medicine research councils.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Dr N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).

Joint Secretary Dr Kavita Jain highlighted the importance of standardised terminology in strengthening scientific credibility and evidence-based integration of traditional medicine systems.

WHO representatives participating in the discussions included:

• Dr Pawan Godatwar from the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO)

• Dr Geetha Krishnan from the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), Jamnagar

Detailed technical presentations were delivered on the proposed four-level hierarchical coding structure for the three systems.

Separate Coding Frameworks Developed for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani

The technical coding frameworks were presented by the respective national research councils.

These included:

• National Health Intervention Codes for Ayurveda (NHICA)

• National Health Intervention Codes for Siddha (NHICS)

• National Health Intervention Codes for Unani Medicine (NHICUM)

The presentations were delivered by:

• Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of CCRAS

• Prof. Dr N. J. Muthukumar, Director General of CCRS

• Dr N. Zaheer Ahmed, Director General of CCRUM

Officials explained that the coding systems aim to classify and standardise traditional therapeutic interventions in a structured digital format compatible with international healthcare informatics standards.

WHO Experts Discuss Global Alignment Requirements

International experts from the WHO Data Standards and Informatics team also participated in the technical deliberations.

Among them was Dr Nenad Kostanjsek, WHO Technical Officer, who discussed the technical roadmap required to align India's ASU intervention classifications with global health information systems.

The discussions focused on:

• International coding standards

• Terminology consistency

• Data interoperability

• Clinical documentation structures

• Future global implementation requirements

Experts noted that integration into global classification systems could improve international recognition of traditional medicine and facilitate collaborative research across countries.

Breakout Sessions Held for Detailed Expert Review

The meeting also included specialised breakout sessions dedicated separately to:

• Ayurveda

• Siddha

• Unani systems

The sessions enabled detailed technical review, expert vetting, and consultation on draft coding documents.

Around 30 scientists and experts from:

• CCRAS

• CCRS

• CCRUM

• Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA)

• All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

• National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM)

and other Ayush institutions participated in the consultations.

Integration Could Support Insurance and Digital Health Expansion

Officials indicated that the standardisation effort could have major long-term implications for India's healthcare ecosystem.

Potential benefits include:

• Easier integration of Ayush systems into insurance frameworks

• Improved electronic medical record compatibility

• Enhanced research documentation

• Better healthcare analytics

• Stronger international acceptance of traditional medicine practices

The initiative also aligns with India's broader push toward:

• Digital health infrastructure

• Integrative healthcare models

• Global expansion of Ayush systems

• Standardised healthcare data management

WHO-ICHI Alpha Draft Workshop Scheduled for July 2026

The Ministry said the framework finalised during the recent consultations will form the foundation for the upcoming WHO-ICHI ASU Alpha Draft Editorial Workshop planned for July 2026.

The workshop is expected to further refine the classification system and advance the process of integrating traditional Indian medicine interventions into international health coding standards.

Officials described the initiative as an important step toward positioning India's traditional healthcare systems within the global health architecture while strengthening scientific documentation, research credibility, and international interoperability.