**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2109 in Lok Sabha, concerning the collaboration between India and Germany on traditional medicine and healthcare systems. The answer outlines the discussions and outcomes of the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine held in Berlin from November 18-20, 2025. A key action item is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **3rd Joint Working Group Meeting:**
* The 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine between the Ministry of Ayush (India) and the Federal Ministry of Health (Germany) was convened in Berlin from November 18-20, 2025.
* **Meeting Agenda:**
* Integration of traditional medicine into the health system.
* Reimbursement pathways for traditional and integrative therapies.
* Regulatory approval frameworks for traditional medicine.
* **Discussion Topics:**
* Joint research collaboration.
* Reimbursement Pathways for Ayush traditional medicine interventions.
* Regulatory Cooperation in the export of Ayush traditional medicine products.
* Integration of Ayush into healthcare systems, highlighting India's regulatory frameworks, research initiatives, and clinical care networks.
* **Collaboration Opportunities:**
* Fundamental research.
* Multi-country trials.
* Global knowledge sharing to develop evidence-based practice guidelines and promote sustainability and economic viability in the Ayush system.
* **Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):**
* Agreement to sign an Institute to Institute level Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin on Academic & Research Collaboration in Ayurveda.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Ayush (India) and Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)**
* **Impact:** Required to implement the outcomes of the Joint Working Group Meeting, including facilitating research collaboration, exploring reimbursement pathways, and establishing regulatory cooperation.
* **Action Required:** Sign the Institute to Institute level Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin on Academic & Research Collaboration in Ayurveda.
**All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin**
* **Impact:** Directly involved in academic and research collaboration in Ayurveda.
* **Action Required:** Sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and begin planning and executing collaborative research and academic activities.
**Ayush Practitioners and Patients**
* **Impact:** Could benefit from improved integration of traditional medicine into healthcare systems, better reimbursement pathways for therapies, and enhanced regulatory frameworks for traditional medicine products.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about the developments and advocate for the implementation of the agreed-upon measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The primary Indian ministry involved in collaboration on traditional medicine with Germany.
3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine: Meeting between India and Germany to discuss collaboration on traditional medicine and healthcare systems.
All India Institute of Ayurveda: Indian institute under the Ministry of Ayush, party to a Memorandum of Understanding with a German institution.
Federal Ministry of Health (Germany): German ministry involved in the Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine with India.
Berlin: Location of the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting and the Charite Universitatsmedizin institution.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2109
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/12/2025
“Collaboration on Traditional Medicine and Healthcare Systems”
2109 Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao
Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao:
Shri Sudheer Gupta
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether India and Germany have agreed to advance their collaboration on traditional
medicine and alternative healthcare systems during the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting
held in Berlin, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of major areas of cooperation discussed or finalized between the two countries,
particularly in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy in
the said meet;
(c) whether any agreements signed or joint research initiatives proposed between the two
countries to promote evidence-based traditional medicine practices in the said meet and if so,
the details thereof; and
(d) The steps taken/being taken by the Government to strengthen regulatory framework and
exchange experts of this sector between two countries?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d) The 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine between the
Ministry of Ayush (India) and the Federal Ministry of Health (Germany) was convened in
Berlin from 18 to 20 November 2025.
The agenda focused on three core pillars:
Integration of traditional medicine into the health system.
Reimbursement pathways for traditional and integrative therapies.
Regulatory approval frameworks for traditional medicine.The joint working group (JWG) discussed various issues during the meeting to carry
forward joint research collaboration, explore Reimbursement Pathways for Ayush traditional
medicine interventions and explore Regulatory Cooperation in export of Ayush traditional
medicine products.
The JWG also discussed the integration of Ayush into healthcare systems, highlighting
India's regulatory frameworks, research initiatives, and clinical care networks. It was
emphasized collaboration opportunities in fundamental research, multi-country trials, and
global knowledge sharing to develop evidence-based practice guidelines and promote
sustainability and economic viability in Ayush system.
Both sides agreed to sign an Institute to Institute level Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between All India Institute of Ayurveda, an autonomous body under the Ministry of
Ayush and Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin on Academic & Research Collaboration in Ayurveda.
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