India has earned international recognition for its pioneering efforts in applying Artificial Intelligence to traditional medicine systems, with the World Health Organization spotlighting the country’s achievements in its first technical brief on the subject. Titled Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine, the document affirms India’s role in shaping global standards for technology-enabled healthcare rooted in ancient knowledge systems.
The brief was formulated following India’s proposal to WHO and showcases a wide spectrum of AI-driven tools developed under the Ministry of Ayush. The global roadmap coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “AI for All,” aimed at inclusive development through responsible technology use. Speaking at the GPAI Summit in 2023, Modi described India’s strategy as one designed to convert AI capabilities into social empowerment, firmly rooted in digital trust and indigenous wisdom.
Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav described the WHO endorsement as a validation of India’s scientific commitment to blending Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy with machine learning, AI platforms and genomic mapping. Notable initiatives highlighted include the SAHI portal, NAMASTE portal and the Ayush Research Portal, which digitise centuries-old medical knowledge and connect practitioners with patient-centric innovations.
Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha underscored India’s role in developing predictive diagnostics using Prakriti-based machine learning and the groundbreaking Ayurgenomics project, which integrates traditional constitutional types with genomic analysis. The Ayush Grid—launched in 2018—serves as the backbone of this digital transformation, hosting multiple citizen-oriented and data-driven applications.
WHO recognised India as the first country to launch a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), and praised its AI-driven cataloguing of ancient texts, integration of diagnostic tools such as pulse reading and tongue analysis with deep neural networks, and the development of artificial chemical sensors to assess parameters like Rasa, Guna and Virya.
AI models developed in India are also being used for comparative pharmacological studies between Ayurveda, Unani and Traditional Chinese Medicine, drug action pathway identification and evidence-based validation of herbal formulations for modern diseases. These innovations are revolutionising the way traditional knowledge is repurposed for contemporary medical use.
India’s efforts in digitisation are also helping bridge the knowledge-access gap for rural practitioners, building interoperable platforms for remote consultations and enhancing digital literacy in the Ayush sector. WHO further reported that India’s Ayush-based healthcare market stands at USD 43.4 billion, underscoring its economic impact and growing global demand.
The Ministry of Ayush welcomed WHO’s endorsement as a milestone that reinforces India’s leadership in digital health and traditional medicine integration, while reaffirming its commitment to international collaboration, technological ethics and patient-centred innovation.
