WHO has acknowledged India’s leadership in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in AYUSH (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy) system.
- This recognition comes through WHO’s first-ever technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine (TM)”, released after India’s proposal on the topic.
- The brief is developed under the Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H).
- GI-AI4H was lanunched jointly by WHO, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
AI Applications in Indian TM
- Smarter Diagnosis: AI is being used to support diagnosis by combining traditional techniques—like pulse reading, tongue analysis, and Prakriti assessment—with machine learning and deep learning.
- Ayurgenomics: Merges genomics with Ayurvedic principles. AI helps identify disease risk markers and tailor health advice based on a person’s Ayurvedic constitution.
- Identify drug action pathways: Develop chemical sensors to assess Ayurvedic concepts like Rasa, Guna, and Virya.
Key Challenges in Using AI for Traditional Medicine
- Biopiracy Risk: Indigenous knowledge and resources may be misused without consent for profit.
- Digital Gaps: Poor infrastructure and low digital literacy limit access and usage.
- Lack of Quality Data: AI needs large, reliable datasets, which are often missing in traditional medicine.
- Localization vs. Integration: Hard to balance local relevance of AI tools with global use and standardization.
To fully harness the potential of AI in TM it is essential to adapt WHO’s guidance on frontier technologies to the unique needs of TM systems, focus on building strong data governance frameworks, especially to protect the rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and Global cooperation.
Indian initiatives that could facilitate AI in Traditional Medicine
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