To enhance global healthcare standards, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched the ICD-11 Traditional Medicine Module 2, incorporating data and terminology from Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani Medicine. The move, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of AYUSH and WHO, aims to index traditional medical terminologies into the WHO Disease Classification Series, providing a standardized framework for disease classification.
At the launch event held at the India Habitat Centre, Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai, Union Minister of State for Ayush and Women & Child Development, emphasized the need to modernize Ayush medicine by aligning it with global standards. The event showcased the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of AYUSH and WHO, with a Donor Agreement signed earlier to support the classification initiative.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary (Ayush), outlined that the Ministry of Ayush will formulate a public health strategy based on ICD-11, Module 2, for national and international implementation. The codes generated from this classification are expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s healthcare delivery system, research, Ayush insurance coverage, research & development, and policy-making.
Dr. Radarico H. Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, highlighted that the inclusion of traditional medical terminologies in ICD-11 bridges the gap between traditional medicine and global standards. Dr. Sameera Asma, Assistant Director-General DDI, WHO, expressed that the indexing of disease terminology related to traditional medicine in ICD-11 is a milestone in establishing a unified global tradition.
Dr. Robert Jacob, Head of Classification and Terminology Unit, WHO, assured that the data listed in ICD-11 will be available for global use. Dr. Rudy Eggers, Director of Integrated Health Services, WHO, stated that the inclusion of TM Module 2 in ICD-11 aligns with the global recognition of traditional medicine. The strategy for this initiative was prepared from 2014 to 2023, and the first draft of the WHO strategy for Traditional Medicine for 2025 to 2034 has been developed.
