India’s Ministry of Ayush has intensified its international outreach to elevate the country’s traditional medicine systems, notably Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, through a landmark agreement with the World Health Organization and a series of strategic collaborations.
The recently signed agreement with WHO marks the launch of a dedicated Traditional Medicine module under the International Classification of Health Interventions. A major milestone under this partnership has been the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, designed to support evidence-based Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine initiatives worldwide and help nations implement WHO’s traditional medicine strategy.
As part of its Central Sector Scheme for the Promotion of International Cooperation in Ayush, the ministry is extending financial and logistical support to Ayush drug manufacturers and service providers to boost exports, promote international recognition, and expand market development. Academic exchanges are also being strengthened through Ayush Academic Chairs, foreign training workshops and symposiums to foster research and knowledge sharing.
In the last two years alone, India has inked 25 country-level MoUs with nations including Malaysia and Angola for cooperation in traditional medicine. Additionally, 15 international institutional MoUs have been signed to establish academic chairs in countries such as Brazil, USA, Czech Republic, Iran and Ghana. A further 52 institute-level agreements were formalized to enable collaborative research and academic partnerships.
To support outreach, 43 Ayush Information Cells have been set up in 39 foreign nations. These serve as resource hubs promoting Indian systems of medicine globally. The ministry also provides scholarships under the International Ayush Fellowship and Scholarship Program, enabling foreign nationals to study Ayush medicine in India.
Complementing these efforts, WHO and Ayush have jointly published benchmark and terminology documents for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, reinforcing the standardization of training, practice, and integration into national healthcare systems. These initiatives reflect India’s proactive stance in becoming a global leader in traditional medicine, supported by rigorous research and expansive partnerships.
