India’s Ministry of Ayush and World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a landmark agreement to mainstream AYUSH systems globally by integrating a dedicated Traditional Medicine module into the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
What is the Agreement About?
- The agreement adds a Traditional Medicine (TM) module to WHO’s ICHI, enabling global recognition of interventions from:
- Ayurveda (e.g. Panchakarma)
- Yoga (e.g. Yoga therapy)
- Unani
- Siddha
- This is aligned with India’s vision to standardize and globalize AYUSH practices with scientific validation.
Benefits of Traditional Medicine Module in ICHI
- Transparent billing & fair pricing of AYUSH therapies
- Easier inclusion of AYUSH treatments in health insurance systems
- Improved hospital management and clinical documentation
- Boosts research & data collection in AYUSH sector
- Expands global accessibility and acceptance of traditional medicine
Why It Matters?
- Elevates AYUSH to be part of mainstream global healthcare
- Assures that India’s traditional wisdom is scientifically categorized and policy-recognized
- Promotes affordable, evidence-based healthcare through traditional systems
- Bridges the gap between modern medicine and traditional interventions
About ICHI (International Classification of Health Interventions)
| Feature | Details |
| Developed By | WHO & WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) |
| Purpose | Systematic classification of health interventions across sectors |
| Coverage | All health domains: acute, mental, rehabilitation, prevention, traditional, etc. |
| Role in AYUSH Integration | Includes dedicated TM module for interventions like Panchakarma, Yoga, etc. |
- Health intervention = An act to assess, improve, maintain, or modify a person’s health condition
About ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases – 11th Revision)
| Feature | Details |
| Adopted | 72nd World Health Assembly in 2019 |
| Effective From | 1st January 2022 |
| Diagnostic Entries | Over 17,000 diagnostic categories and 1,00,000+ diagnostic index terms |
| Purpose | Records & compares global mortality and morbidity data systematically |
| Link with ICHI | ICD-11 handles disease classification; ICHI handles health interventions |