Ayush–WHO consultative meeting on ICHI framework and National Health Intervention Codes for Ayurveda, Siddha & Unani

📌 Summary:

• Ministry of Ayush organised a two-day high-level review and consultative meeting (25–26 May 2026, online) with WHO on developing the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) and National Health Intervention Codes (NHIC) for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU)
• Builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Donor Agreement between Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization
• Aim: integrate traditional-medicine interventions into WHO's ICHI framework and develop a globally standardised, scientifically robust coding vocabulary for ASU clinical procedures
• Expected benefits: cross-border data exchange, stronger clinical research, global health-system interoperability and integration with insurance/payment systems
• Chaired by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (Secretary, Ayush); WHO representation included WHO SEARO and the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), Jamnagar
• Inaugural remarks by Dr. N. Srikanth (DDG, CCRAS); Dr. Kavita Jain (Joint Secretary, Ayush) highlighted importance of standardised intervention terminology
• Technical sessions discussed four-level hierarchical coding directories for traditional medicine

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Health policy, India–WHO cooperation, Indian Knowledge Systems; GS3 — IPR/standardisation, evidence-based AYUSH for global integration.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• ICHI = International Classification of Health Interventions (WHO)
• NHIC = National Health Intervention Codes
• ASU = Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems
• Partnership instrument: MoU + Donor Agreement between Ministry of Ayush and WHO
• WHO bodies engaged: WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO); WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), Jamnagar (established 2022 — world's first such centre)
• Apex Indian research body: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

🔑 Key Term: ICHI (International Classification of Health Interventions) — WHO's reference classification for health procedures and interventions (sibling to ICD for diseases); being extended to traditional medicine for global interoperability and insurance integration.