India's significant role in promoting Traditional Medicine (TM) globally took center stage at the 10th International Conference on Traditional and Complementary Medicine (INTRACOM) 2024, held at the National Institutes of Health, Malaysia. A high-level delegation led by Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha highlighted India's contributions to modernising Traditional Medicine practices through digital innovations.
The event focused on integrating digital health technologies into Traditional Medicine, resonating with India’s ongoing initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the NAMASTE Portal, which streamline TM practices within mainstream healthcare.
Speaking at the conference's conclusion, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha lauded the finalisation of the ICD-11 TM2 module, a monumental step in global TM documentation. He remarked, “The ICD-11 TM2 module will standardise the documentation of TM disorders, patterns, and services, enabling measurable outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced healthcare innovation globally.”
The module encompasses 529 TM categories, offering data collection and analysis capabilities. India’s contributions were instrumental in its development, drawing upon the nation’s rich traditions of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems.
India is already spearheading the module’s implementation domestically, with capacity-building workshops in collaboration with the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM). Kotecha reiterated India’s commitment to assisting WHO in developing TM codes under the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) framework.
The conference also discussed transliteration, translation, and future maintenance of TM2 entities. Efforts to map these standards with national frameworks like the NAMASTE Portal signal a move towards integrated global healthcare solutions.
The 10th INTRACOM 2024 underscored India’s vision of leveraging digital innovation to position TM as a global healthcare cornerstone. Kotecha affirmed, “The successful migration of TM2 module to the ICD-11 main browser will further push Traditional Medicine in the global healthcare ecosystem, ensuring health for all.”
