Why in news?
The World Health Organization released its first technical roadmap titled “Mapping the application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine,” incorporating India’s proposal under the Global Initiative on AI for Health. The document seeks to guide safe and effective integration of AI into systems like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani.
Why a roadmap?
- Global reach of traditional medicine: Around 80 % of the world’s population relies on traditional medicine for primary health needs. India’s AYUSH systems employ over 800,000 practitioners and many are turning to digital health solutions.
- Need for evidence and personalisation: AI can analyse large datasets to provide personalised herbal prescriptions, validate efficacy through clinical evidence and help digitise ancient knowledge.
- India’s leadership: India hosts the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar and has developed digital initiatives such as the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and Ayurgenomics projects.
Challenges to address
- Ethical and privacy concerns: Traditional therapies involve sensitive personal data; AI tools must ensure consent, data security and cultural sensitivity.
- Lack of standardised evidence: Many remedies lack rigorous clinical trials, making it difficult to train AI systems reliably.
- Regulatory gaps: Existing laws do not explicitly cover AI‑driven diagnostics or prescriptions in traditional systems.
Key components of the roadmap
- Use‑case mapping: Identifies priority areas like diagnosis of lifestyle disorders, drug discovery, supply‑chain monitoring and personalised medicine.
- Governance principles: Emphasises safety, transparency, fairness, accountability and inclusivity while deploying AI in traditional medicine.
- Technical enablers: Calls for interoperable data standards, natural‑language processing tools for ancient texts, and secure cloud platforms.
- Innovation models: Encourages partnerships between governments, academia, start‑ups and community practitioners to co‑develop AI tools.
Conclusion
The roadmap signals global recognition of India’s traditional knowledge and positions the country as a leader in shaping ethical AI norms. However, balanced policies are needed to protect indigenous communities, ensure quality control and build public trust.