**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1315 in the Lok Sabha, to be answered on 06/02/2026, regarding the "Global Standardisation of AYUSH Systems." It provides details on the progress of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2025 to develop a Traditional Medicine module within the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). The aim is to standardise Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) systems globally.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **MoU and Collaboration:**
* The Government of India reviewed the progress under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Donor Agreement signed with the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 24, 2025.
* The collaboration focuses on developing a dedicated Traditional Medicine module within the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
* **Technical Project Meeting:**
* A two-day Technical Project Meeting was organized by the WHO and Ministry of Ayush on December 20–21, 2025, in New Delhi.
* The meeting involved experts from all six WHO regions and various member states.
* The purpose of the meeting was to harmonize intervention descriptions and establish a four-year strategic framework for the development of international codes.
* **Expected Benefits:**
* The implementation of standardized codes is expected to provide substantial benefits.
* These benefits include enhanced global recognition and scientific credibility for Ayush systems.
* The module aims to improve clinical documentation, support evidence-based research, and facilitate integration into national health information systems and insurance reimbursement frameworks globally.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Ayush**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing and coordinating the efforts to standardize AYUSH systems globally through collaboration with the WHO. Accountable for the success of the Technical Project Meeting.
* **Action Required:** Continue to work with the WHO to harmonize intervention descriptions and develop international codes within the four-year framework.
**World Health Organization (WHO)**
* **Impact:** Partner in developing a dedicated Traditional Medicine module within the ICHI framework to standardize AYUSH systems.
* **Action Required:** Continue collaboration and offer the necessary support to the Ministry of Ayush in ensuring the successful completion of the global standardisation process.
**AYUSH Practitioners and Systems (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani)**
* **Impact:** Implementation of standardised codes will help in providing enhanced global recognition and scientific credibility for Ayush systems, improved clinical documentation, and integration into national health information systems and insurance reimbursement frameworks.
* **Action Required:** Familiarise themselves with the standardised codes as they are developed and integrate them into their practice to support documentation, research, and global recognition of AYUSH practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ayush: The primary government body responsible for the development and propagation of AYUSH systems.
World Health Organization (WHO): An international organization collaborating with the Ministry of Ayush to standardize AYUSH systems.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A signed agreement between the Government of India and the WHO concerning the standardization of AYUSH systems.
International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI): A system to standardize AYUSH systems globally.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 1315
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/02/2026
“Global Standardisation of AYUSH Systems”
1315 Dr. Shashi Tharoor:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has evaluated the progress under the Memorandum of
Understanding signed with the World Health Organization in May 2025, for developing a
dedicated Traditional Medicine module within the International Classification of Health
Interventions (ICHI) to standardise AYUSH systems globally;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the milestones achieved the timelines for completion of the module and the
anticipated benefits for global recognition, clinical documentation and insurance integration of
AYUSH interventions; and
(d) whether the Government has established mechanisms to ensure that the scientific and
technical outputs from this collaboration are systematically integrated into international
healthcare standards and national policy frameworks and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d) The Government of India has reviewed the progress under the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) and Donor Agreement signed with the World Health Organization
(WHO) on May 24, 2025. This collaboration is specifically aimed at developing a dedicated
Traditional Medicine module within the International Classification of Health Interventions
(ICHI) to facilitate the global standardization of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) systems.
Significant progress was made during a two-day Technical Project Meeting organized
by the WHO and Ministry of Ayush on December 20–21, 2025, in New Delhi. This meeting
brought together experts from all six WHO regions and various member states to harmonize
intervention descriptions and establish a strategic four-year framework for the development of
these international codes.The implementation of these standardized codes is expected to provide substantial
benefits, including enhanced global recognition and scientific credibility for Ayush systems.
By providing a common language for health procedures, the module will improve clinical
documentation, support evidence-based research, and facilitate the integration of traditional
medicine into national health information systems and insurance reimbursement frameworks
globally.
****