A high-level delegation led by Secretary, Ministry of Ayush from India showcased India’s groundbreaking contributions to the global advancement of Traditional Medicine (TM) at the 10th International Conference on Traditional and Complementary Medicine (INTRACOM) 2024 held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Setial Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The conference focused on the transformative role of digital technologies in modernising healthcare practices in Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM).
Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the WHO meeting held in this regard, Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha highlighted the successful finalisation of the ICD-11 TM2 module as a milestone in the systematic global documentation of TM practices. He stated that, “The ICD-11 TM2 module will revolutionise traditional medicine by enabling standardised documentation of disorders, patterns, and services. This will help measure outcomes, cost-effectiveness, safety, and comparisons with mainstream medicine, driving innovation and enhancing healthcare worldwide.”
He added, “India has already initiated national capacity-building efforts for implementing the TM2 module, including training workshops in collaboration with NCISM. We remain committed to supporting WHO in developing Traditional Medicine codes under the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) framework.”
The ICD-11 TM2 module includes 529 categories encompassing TM disorders and patterns, enabling data collection and analysis on an unprecedented scale. India played a pivotal role in its development, leveraging its rich traditional medicine systems—Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani—which have well-established practices and regulations.
The 10th INTRACOM 2024 explored the integration of digital health technologies in TM, aligning with India’s pioneering efforts in this domain. Secretary, Ministry of Ayush highlighted India’s initiatives, including developing a National Digital Health Ecosystem under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the Namaste Portal, which facilitates seamless integration of TM practices into mainstream healthcare.
India’s active role in INTRACOM 2024 underscores its global health and wellbeing leadership. By leveraging digital technologies and fostering international collaboration, the Ministry of Ayush ensures that Traditional Medicine continues to contribute meaningfully to global healthcare challenges.
The conference also provided a platform for deliberations on transliteration, translation, and future maintenance of TM2 entities, along with mapping these with national standards like the NAMASTE Portal. This convergence of efforts will pave the way for integrated global healthcare solutions.
As India continues to champion the digitisation of healthcare, the Ministry of Ayush remains committed to driving innovation in TM. Secretary Shri Kotecha concluded, “The successful migration of the TM2 module to the ICD-11 main browser will mark another step forward in integrating Traditional Medicine into the global healthcare framework. Together, we can ensure health for all.”
The 10th INTRACOM 2024 reinforced India’s vision of modernising TM through digital innovation, positioning it as a global health and wellbeing cornerstone.
****
