**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Ayush hosted a consultative meeting on May 25–26, 2026, to develop National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC) for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) systems. This initiative, conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to integrate traditional medicine into the global International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) framework. The meeting concluded with a roadmap to finalize the framework for the upcoming WHO-ICHI ASU Alpha Draft editorial workshop scheduled for July 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Core Objectives of the Initiative**
* Develop a globally standardized and scientifically robust coding vocabulary for ASU clinical interventions.
* Enable cross-border data exchange and strengthen international clinical research.
* Support global health system interoperability and facilitate the integration of traditional medicine into insurance systems.
* Enhance documentation practices and digital health ecosystem integration.
**Technical Developments**
* Development of four-level hierarchical coding directories for specific systems: NHICA (Ayurveda), NHICS (Siddha), and NHICUM (Unani).
* Alignment of ASU classifications with global health informatics standards through expert deliberations with the WHO Data Standards and Informatics team.
* Conducting separate breakout sessions for detailed technical review and vetting of draft documents by approximately 30 scientists and institutional faculty.
**Administrative and Collaborative Framework**
* The initiative is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Donor Agreement between the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO.
* Participation included experts from the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Siddha (CCRS), and Unani Medicine (CCRUM), along with national institutes like ITRA, AIIA, and NIUM.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Ayush and Indian Research Councils (CCRAS, CCRS, CCRUM)**
**Impact**
These bodies are the primary developers of the technical coding directories and are responsible for aligning traditional Indian medicine with global standards.
**Action Required**
Finalize the technical framework based on meeting deliberations to prepare for the July 2026 Alpha Draft editorial workshop.
**World Health Organization (WHO)**
**Impact**
The WHO provides the international framework (ICHI) and technical expertise to ensure ASU interventions are globally recognized and interoperable.
**Action Required**
Collaborate on the future roadmap and technical requirements for the Alpha Draft editorial workshop in July 2026.
**Traditional Medicine Practitioners and Researchers**
**Impact**
Standardized coding will provide these stakeholders with better documentation practices and evidence-based systems for clinical research.
**Action Required**
Utilize the standardized NHIC and ICHI terminologies once implemented to enable scientific data exchange and research.
**Insurance and Global Health Systems**
**Impact**
Standardization will allow for the integration of ASU interventions into mainstream health insurance and international health data systems.
**Action Required**
Prepare systems to adopt the new standardized coding vocabulary for cross-border health data and billing interoperability.
Key Entities Referenced
International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI): A global framework by the World Health Organization used to provide a common language for health interventions, into which traditional medicine is being integrated.
National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC): A standardized coding system (including NHICA, NHICS, and NHICUM) developed for the Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems of medicine to enable cross-border data exchange.
Ministry of Ayush: The primary Indian government ministry responsible for the development and global alignment of traditional medicine intervention codes.
World Health Organization (WHO): The international health regulator partnering with India to standardize traditional medicine interventions within global health informatics and insurance frameworks.
AYUSH
Two-Day Consultative Meeting Held on WHO-
ICHI Framework and National Health Intervention
Codes for Traditional Medicine
Ayush Reviews Development of International Classification of
Health Interventions and National Health Intervention Codes
for Traditional Medicine
Experts Deliberate on Standardised Coding System for
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani under WHO-ICHI Initiative
Posted On: 27 MAY 2026 12:49PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, organized a high-level review meeting and consultative
discussions on the development of the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) and
National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC) for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) systems of medicine
on May 25–26, 2026, in online mode.
Following the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Donor Agreement between the
Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO), the initiative aims to integrate traditional
medicine interventions into the WHO’s ICHI framework. The objective is to develop a globally
standardized and scientifically robust coding vocabulary for ASU clinical interventions to enable cross-
border data exchange, strengthen clinical research, and support global health system interoperability,
including insurance integration.
The meeting was chaired by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, who emphasized the
strategic importance of internationally aligned intervention classifications. He stated that the initiative
would significantly contribute to integrating traditional medicine into global health systems, strengthening
documentation practices, and enhancing interoperability in digital health ecosystems.
Inaugural and Technical Sessions
The inaugural session began with welcome remarks by Dr. N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General, Central
Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). In her introductory remarks, Dr. Kavita Jain, Joint
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, highlighted the significance of standardized intervention terminology in
strengthening evidence-based traditional medicine systems.
This was followed by addresses from representatives of the World Health Organization, including Dr.
Pawan Godatwar, Technical Officer, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), and Dr. Geetha
Krishnan, Unit Head, GTMC Jamnagar.
Detailed technical presentations on the four-level hierarchical coding directories were made by the
respective Research Councils:Ayurveda (NHICA): Presented by Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS
Siddha (NHICS): Presented by Prof. Dr. N. J. Muthukumar, Director General, CCRS
Unani (NHICUM): Presented by Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed, Director General, CCRUM
International experts from the WHO Data Standards and Informatics team, including Dr. Nenad
Kostanjsek, Technical Officer, WHO, deliberated on the future roadmap and technical requirements for
aligning ASU intervention classifications with global health informatics standards.
The two-day meeting also included separate breakout sessions for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems,
facilitating detailed technical review, vetting and expert consultations on draft documents. Around 30
scientists from the three Research Councils, along with faculty members from various Ayush National
Institutes such as ITRA, AIIA, NIUM and other reputed institutions, participated in the deliberations.
The finalized framework will form the basis for the upcoming WHO-ICHI ASU Alpha Draft editorial
workshop scheduled for July 2026.***
SR/SV/SG
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