India Becomes First Country to Digitalize Traditional Medicine with AI Integration: India has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first country to digitalize traditional medicine systems using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized this pioneering effort in its first-ever technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine.”
AI Enhances Diagnostics and Personalised Preventive Care
In this landmark document, WHO highlighted India’s advancements in applying AI to Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. AI-driven diagnostic systems now combine traditional methods like pulse reading and Prakriti assessment with machine learning and deep neural networks. As a result, practitioners are improving diagnostic accuracy while delivering personalized preventive care.
Ayurgenomics Bridges Ancient Wisdom with Modern Science
Moreover, India’s Ayurgenomics initiative, which fuses Ayurvedic principles with genomics, uses AI to identify disease markers and tailor health recommendations. Additionally, AI helps decode the genomic and molecular basis of herbal formulations, effectively bridging traditional wisdom with modern science.
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Sets Global Model
The WHO praised India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) as a global model for preserving indigenous medical heritage. Furthermore, AI-powered tools are cataloguing and semantically analyzing ancient texts, making therapeutic knowledge more accessible to researchers and practitioners worldwide.
AI Modernizes Formulations and Drug Pathway Research
The technical brief also recognizes India’s innovative use of AI in identifying drug action pathways, conducting comparative studies across traditional systems, and developing artificial chemical sensors to evaluate traditional parameters like Rasa, Guna, and Virya. Consequently, these efforts are modernizing traditional formulations for global healthcare integration.
Digital Platforms Expand Ayush Sector’s Reach
Importantly, WHO commended India’s broader initiatives, including digital platforms for online consultations, promoting digital literacy among Ayush practitioners, and creating interoperable systems that integrate traditional medicine with mainstream healthcare. The brief also noted that India’s Ayush sector has reached a market size of 43.4 billion US dollars, playing a significant role in economic growth.
Leaders Hail WHO Recognition of India’s Achievements
Union Minister of State for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, welcomed WHO’s recognition as a testament to India’s dedication to advancing traditional medicine through technology. He emphasized that platforms like the SAHI portal, NAMASTE portal, and Ayush Research Portal are preserving ancient medical wisdom while shaping a future of personalized, evidence-based healthcare.
Ayush Grid Powers AI Innovations and Global Integration
Meanwhile, Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha highlighted the importance of the Ayush Grid, a digital health platform launched in 2018, which underpins citizen-centric initiatives like SAHI, NAMASTE, and Ayush Research portals. He stated that the WHO brief showcases India’s AI-driven innovations, from predictive diagnostics using Prakriti-based machine learning to the groundbreaking Ayurgenomics project integrating Ayurveda with modern genomics. Mr Kotecha added that these efforts are preserving and validating traditional knowledge while advancing its global integration.
PM Modi’s Vision Drives AI Integration in Traditional Medicine
Indeed, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to leverage AI for social development and inclusive growth, India has positioned itself as a global leader in integrating technology with traditional medicine.
