Lok Sabha Question No. 195 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *195

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST 2025

## Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine

- *195. Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao:

Shri Manish Jaiswal:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state;

- (a) whether the World Health Organization(WHO) has recently released a technical brief titled, Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the  Government has reviewed the key findings and recommendations of the brief and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  implications  of  this  report  for  the  development  and  regulation  of Artificial Intelligence in the Indian traditional (AYUSH) medicine sector;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to integrate Artificial Intelligence in the promotion, research and practice of AYUSH systems in light of this brief; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to boost the Traditional Medicine in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## The Statement referred in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 195 for 01.08.2025

- (a) On 11th July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a technical brief titled, "Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine". This brief  explores  the  current  landscape  of  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  applications  in traditional medicine, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges. It aims to provide guidance  for  the  responsible  and  ethical  integration  of  AI  into  traditional  medicine practices worldwide.

The Ministry of Ayush has contributed to this process as a topic driver for Traditional Medicine topic group under the WHO -ITU Focus Group on AI for Health (FG-AI4H), for conducting global consultation meetings and assisting in finalisation of the document.

- (b) The  Government  has  reviewed  the  key  findings  and  recommendations  of  the  WHO technical brief. The brief emphasises the potential of AI to enhance various aspects of traditional  medicine,  including  diagnosis,  treatment,  research,  and  education.  It  also underscores the importance of addressing ethical considerations, data privacy, regulatory frameworks, and capacity building for the effective and safe adoption of AI in this sector.
- (c) The  WHO  report  has  significant  implications  for  the  development  and  regulation  of Artificial  Intelligence  in  the  AYUSH  sector.  It  provides  a  valuable  framework  for developing robust policies and guidelines to ensure the responsible integration of AI. The report's findings facilitate:
- i. Establishing ethical guidelines for AI use in AYUSH sector, ensuring patient safety and data privacy.
- ii. Developing standardised protocols for AI-powered diagnostic and therapeutic tools in AYUSH.
- iii. Formulating  regulatory  mechanisms  to  govern  the  development,  validation,  and deployment of AI applications in the AYUSH sector.
- iv. Promoting research and development in AI for traditional medicine while adhering to international best practices.
- (d) In light of the WHO brief, Ministry of Ayush has initiated deliberations on taking several steps viz., capacity buildingand digitization through Ayush Grid to integrate Artificial Intelligence into the promotion, research, and practice of Ayush systems.
- (e) The  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  implemented  multiple  initiatives  to  boost  the  Traditional Medicine in India as follows:
- i. A Central Sector Scheme for promotion of Information, Education and Communication  (IEC)  in  the  Ayush  sector  has  been  implemented  to  create widespread awareness about Ayush systems of medicine. This initiative aims to reach all sections of the population across the country through national/state Arogya Fairs, Yoga  Fests/Utsavs,  Ayurveda  Parvs,  and  various  multimedia  and  print  media campaigns.
- ii. 12 National Institutes and 05 Research Councils under the aegis of Ministry of Ayush are  engaged  in  Outpatient  &  Indoor  patient  services,  co-ordinating,  formulating, developing and promoting research on scientific lines in Ayush systems of healthcare. These  Institutes/  Councils  organizes  Arogya  Melas,  Awareness  Camps,  Treatment Camps, Radio & TV talks, outreach programs like Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP), Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Research Program and Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP) for creating awareness on Ayush systems of healthcare among the general public. The Councils conducts research in the diverse areas comprising of Clinical  Research,  The  Councils  have  published  journals  which  are  also  available electronically  in  the  public  domain  to  enable  dissemination  of  the  outcomes  of research among the  public.  Medicinal  Plant  Research,  Drug  Standardization  & Quality Control; Pharmacological Research and Literary & Fundamental Research to generate tangible evidence.
- iii. To digitally empower the sector, the Ministry has ini tiated the 'Ayush Grid' project, a comprehensive ICT-based initiative designed to establish a unified digital ecosystem and robust IT infrastructure for the holistic growth of the Ayush sector.
- iv. The  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  implementing  the  Ayush  Oushadhi  Gunavatta  evam Uttpadan SamvardhanYojna (AOGUSY) scheme to enhance manufacturing capabilities and exports of traditional medicines, support infrastructure and technology  upgrades, strengthen  regulatory  frameworks,  and  promote  quality standards and collaboration across the sector.
- v. Pharmacopoeia  Commission  for  Indian  Medicine  &  Homoeopathy  (PCIM&H),  a subordinate office under Ministry of Ayush, lays down the formulary specifications and  pharmacopoeial  standards  for  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani,  and  Homoeopathy (ASU&H)  drugs.  Implementation  of  these  pharmacopoeial  standards  ensures  the optimum quality, purity and strength in the medicines.