NIIMH Hosts Workshop to Advance ICD-11 TM2 Implementation and WHO Terminology Adoption for Ayurveda in India

The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad, hosted a two-day workshop during the 10th World Ayurveda Congress in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on December 13th and 14th, 2024. This significant event aimed to advance the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Traditional Medicine Module-2. Additionally, it focused on updating international terminologies for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine, as well as conducting a scoping review to develop terminologies for Sowa Rigpa.

NIIMH, as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Literary and Fundamental Research in Traditional Medicine, spearheaded this initiative to enhance the global acceptance and integration of Indian traditional medicine systems.

The workshop brought together distinguished dignitaries, senior officials from the Ministry of Ayush, academic leaders, and international experts. Key outcomes included a roadmap for capacity building and implementation of the ICD-11 Traditional Medicine Chapter 2 (ICD-11 TM2) in India, a status report on current terminology implementation focusing on procedure codes, and a strategy for developing the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani.

A preliminary scoping review assessed existing literature for Sowa Rigpa terminology development, setting the stage for further action. A noteworthy recommendation was the proposal to observe January 10th annually as “Ayush Medical Coding and Records Day,” with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) initiating this observance with Ministry approval.

The inaugural session featured prominent personalities including Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, and Prof. Bhushan Patwardhan, National Research Professor of Ayush. Other notable attendees were senior officials and researchers such as Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Health Sciences, and Dr. Arun Kumar Tripathi, Vice Chancellor of Uttarakhand Ayurveda University, among others.

Esteemed international delegates, including Dr. Antonio Morandi from Italy and Dr. Pushpa Raj Poudel from Nepal, shared their perspectives on implementing ICD-11 TM2 and enriching Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani terminologies.

The workshop concluded with a dedicated session on Sowa Rigpa terminologies, featuring active participation from experts like Dr. Tashi Dawa and Dr. Sonam Dolkar. Additionally, a special issue of the Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences titled "Ayurveda Aahar" was launched, highlighting the growing academic focus on traditional medicine.

This initiative reaffirms India's commitment, alongside WHO, to standardize and promote evidence-based traditional medicine on a global scale.