New Delhi: In a major milestone for global recognition of traditional medicine, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the 2025 update to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This update introduces a groundbreaking new module dedicated to traditional medicine conditions, marking a significant step toward systematically tracking and integrating traditional healthcare systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani on a global scale.

By including traditional medicine in WHO’s internationally recognized health framework, the update officially documents and categorizes Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani within ICD-11, placing them alongside conventional medical conditions. This recognition enhances their role in global health reporting, research, and policymaking.

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Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, highlighted the update’s impact, stating, “The release of the ICD-11 update 2025 is a crucial step toward integrating traditional medicine—specifically Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani—on a global scale. By enabling dual coding and improving data collection, this update promotes evidence-based policymaking, enhances patient care, and strengthens the inclusion of traditional medicine in national healthcare strategies. It paves the way for holistic and inclusive healthcare worldwide.”

Dr. Robert Jakob, Team Leader of WHO’s Classifications and Terminologies Unit, emphasized the update’s technical advancements, saying, “With the new updates, ICD-11 provides greater ease of use, improved interoperability, and enhanced accuracy, benefiting national health systems and the people they serve.”

Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani Gain a Global Platform

Traditional medicine has played a vital role in healthcare across Asia, Africa, and other regions, where indigenous practices complement modern medical approaches. The introduction of the Traditional Medicine Conditions module in ICD-11 acknowledges the significance of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani in today’s healthcare landscape. This move aligns with WHO’s commitment to universal health coverage and sustainable development goals, recognizing the therapeutic potential of traditional systems alongside modern treatments.

With this new module, healthcare providers can use dual coding to document both traditional and conventional medical diagnoses. This feature enables comprehensive data collection on the use and effectiveness of traditional medicine, offering researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers a structured framework to assess its impact on health systems worldwide.

Advancing Research and Evidence-Based Policies

Incorporating traditional medicine into ICD-11 brings several benefits to global healthcare:

• Enhanced data collection: Enables the global tracking of traditional medicine usage, ensuring comprehensive reporting.

• Evidence-based policymaking: Supports the integration of traditional medicine into national healthcare strategies, reinforcing its role in global health priorities.

• Improved patient care: Allows healthcare providers to incorporate traditional medicine into clinical decision-making for holistic treatment plans.

• Global comparability: Establishes a structured framework for researchers to analyze the efficacy of traditional medicine alongside modern treatments.

By systematically documenting these practices, WHO strengthens the visibility and credibility of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani on the world stage.

A Major Step for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani

Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani have served as essential healthcare systems for millions in India and beyond for centuries. Their formal inclusion in ICD-11 provides an opportunity to highlight their role as integral components of holistic healthcare.

This recognition not only boosts their global acceptance but also emphasizes their relevance in achieving universal health coverage and promoting health equity. It represents a shift toward inclusivity, positioning traditional medicine alongside modern medicine in global health discussions.

Strengthening Traditional Medicine’s Role in Healthcare

Designed to capture morbidity data rather than mortality, the traditional medicine module in ICD-11 helps governments and healthcare institutions assess the frequency, quality, and cost-effectiveness of traditional medicine interventions. This evidence-based approach enables policymakers to make informed decisions about integrating traditional medicine into national healthcare frameworks.

As more people turn to traditional medicine alongside modern treatments, WHO’s initiative ensures that all healthcare approaches—both modern and traditional—are included in public health strategies. By incorporating traditional medicine into ICD-11, WHO not only promotes inclusivity but also advances evidence-based healthcare solutions for diverse populations.

The recognition of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani within ICD-11 marks a transformative moment for traditional medicine on the global stage. With research, policy formulation, and healthcare practices increasingly shaped by evidence-based approaches, this historic update is set to redefine the future of traditional medicine, ensuring its continued relevance in modern healthcare systems worldwide.