**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2459 in Lok Sabha, addressed to the Minister of AYUSH, concerning the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into AYUSH systems. The document details the steps taken by the Ministry of AYUSH to integrate AI into AYUSH systems, including the development of AI-driven initiatives and collaborations with international organizations. The answer was provided on February 13th, 20226.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AI Integration Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Ayush is actively integrating AI into Ayush systems for diagnostics, research, and service delivery.
* The Ayush Grid project serves as the IT backbone, integrating AI, ML, and other technologies across various functional areas like Healthcare, Research & Development, Education & Awareness.
* Multiple digital platforms have been developed for seamless, citizen-centric service delivery including the My Ayush Integrated Service Portal (MAISP), Ayush Hospital Management Information System (A-HMIS), Ayush Research Portal and the NAMASTE Portal.
* The Ministry has sanctioned establishment of a Centre of Excellence in AyurTech under Ayurswasthya scheme at IIT Jodhpur, integrating technologies such as AI and ML to develop evidence-based solutions.
* **Collaboration & Standardization:**
* An MoU has been signed between NCISM and BITS Pilani to assess AI preparedness, identify sector-specific needs, and co-develop AI-based tools and content.
* The AyurGYAN Scheme promotes the use of AI and other computing technologies for understanding physiology and pathology.
* The Ministry has played a leading role in the Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (FG-AI4H) to promote global collaboration and standardization of AI in health.
* **International Recognition and Interoperability:**
* The WHO has released a technical brief, "Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine," recognizing India's innovation and implementation of AI in traditional medicine.
* The Ministry played a pivotal role in developing Traditional Medicine Module 2 of Chapter 26 in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), released in February 2025, dedicated to Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. This enables dual coding and enhances global interoperability.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of AYUSH**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is at the forefront of integrating AI into AYUSH systems and collaborating with international organizations to ensure global interoperability and standardization.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing AI-driven initiatives, fostering collaboration with national and international bodies, and promoting the adoption of AI in AYUSH practices.
**Healthcare Providers (Worldwide)**
* **Impact:** Healthcare providers worldwide can utilize the Traditional Medicine Module 2 of Chapter 26 in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), enabling dual coding for both traditional and conventional diagnoses and enhancing global interoperability.
* **Action Required:** Adopt the Traditional Medicine Module 2 of Chapter 26 in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in their practice to ensure comprehensive data collection and enhanced interoperability in healthcare systems.
**Faculty and Students in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa (ASUS) Systems**
* **Impact:** AI preparedness will be assessed and AI-based tools, course content, and pedagogies will be co-developed to enable wider AI adoption.
* **Action Required:** Prepare to engage with the developed AI-based tools, course content, and pedagogies in their education, research, and practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The primary governmental body responsible for developing and promoting AYUSH systems, and integrating AI into those systems.
Ayush Grid: The IT backbone for the Ayush sector, driving digital transformation through the integration of advanced technologies like AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Technology being integrated into AYUSH systems for diagnostics, research, and service delivery.
World Health Organization (WHO): International organization whose recognition of AI in traditional medicine and collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush are highlighted.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM): Statutory body constituted under NCISM Act, 2020 which signed MoU with Birla Institute for Technical Studies (BITS).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2459
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13th FEBRUARY 20226
“Integration of AI into AYUSH Systems”
2459. Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa
Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is taking any measures to actively integrate Artificial
Intelligence (AI) into Ayush systems for diagnostics, research and service delivery;
(b) if so, the details of key AI-driven initiatives;
(c) whether the World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged India’s AI
innovations in traditional medicine; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to ensure
global inter-operability, scientific validation and wider adoption of AI in AYUSH
practices?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) and (b) Ministry of Ayush has taken following steps to actively integrate Artificial
Intelligence (AI) into Ayush systems:
The Ayush Grid project serves as the IT backbone of the Ayush sector, driving digital
transformation by integrating advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Machine Learning (ML) and others across functional areas i.e. Healthcare, Research &
Development, Education & Awareness etc. Under this initiative, multiple robust digital
platforms have been developed to ensure seamless, citizen-centric service delivery. These
include the My Ayush Integrated Service Portal (MAISP), the master portal of Ayush Grid,
designed to provide integrated access to Ayush services and schemes; the Ayush Hospital
Management Information System (A-HMIS) to strengthen diagnostics and healthcare service
delivery; and dedicated platforms such as the Ayush Research Portal and the NAMASTE
Portal to promote and support evidence-based research in the Ayush sector.
Beside this, the Ministry has sanctioned establishment of a Centre of Excellence in AyurTech
under Ayurswasthya scheme for Integrative Precision Health and Medicine at IIT Jodhpur.
This pioneering project integrates Functional Genomics, Electronics, Digital Health, and
cutting-edge technologies such as AI and ML to develop evidence-based solutions.Furthermore, an MoU has been signed between National Commission for Indian System of
Medicine (NCISM), a statutory body constituted under NCISM Act, 2020 and Birla Institute
for Technical Studies (BITS), Pilani to assess the AI preparedness of faculty and students in
Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa (ASUS) systems, identify sector-specific needs,
and co-develop appropriate AI-based tools, course content, and pedagogies for wider
adoption. Additionally under Ayurveda Biology Integrated Health Research (ABIHR)
component of AYURGYAN Scheme of Ministry of Ayush, one of the priority area of
research is use of advancement in sciences, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other computing
technologies for understanding of physiology and pathology with individualistic approach for
the prevention and management of diseases.
(c) On 11th July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a technical brief
titled, "Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine"
recognizing India’s innovation and implementation of AI in traditional medicine.
(d) The Ministry of Ayush has undertaken following initiatives to ensure global
interoperability, scientific validation, and wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in
Ayush practices:
i. The Ministry of Ayush has played a leading role as a topic driver for Traditional
Medicine within the Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (FG-AI4H).
This initiative promotes global collaboration and the standardization of AI in
health. The effort has now advanced into the “Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-
AI4H),”jointly led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO).
ii. The Ministry played a pivotal role in developing Traditional Medicine Module 2 of
Chapter 26 in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), dedicated to
Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. This module was officially released on the WHO ICD-
11 Portal in February 2025, enabling healthcare providers worldwide to use dual
coding for both traditional and conventional diagnoses. This supports comprehensive
data collection and enhances global interoperability in healthcare systems.
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