Ayush ministry is codifying traditional med data, says PM Modi

Jan 29,2024

NEW DELHI: Most doctors practicing traditional systems of medicine - ayurveda, unani or siddha - follow their own style to write name of a disease and methods of treatment, making it difficult for a patient to approach another doctor for follow-up.

This could change with the ministry of Ayush, with help from WHO, codifying terminology related to diseases and treatment offered in these systems of medicine. This will help doctors follow the same pattern while writing prescriptions, PM Narendra Modi said in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address on Sunday.

"One advantage of this will be that if you go to another doctor with that slip, they will get complete information from just that slip - from the illness, treatment, medication prescribed, and duration of treatment to one's allergies,"Modi said.

Another benefit will be to those associated with research work, the PM added. "Scientists from other countries will also get complete information about a disease, medicines and their effects. As the research expands and scientists come together, these medical systems will yield better results and people's inclination towards them will rise," he said.

The PM expressed hope that doctors associated with ayurveda, unani and siddha systems will soon adopt the new coding system. Sources in the ministry said groundwork for codifying diseases and treatment under various forms of traditional systems of medicine was created during the 2017 Ayurveda Day celebrations when National Ayush Morbidity and Standardised Terminologies Electronic (NAMASTE) portal http://namstp.ayush.gov.in was launched by PM Modi.

An official said data and terminology related to diseases based on ayurveda, siddha and unani medicine have been included in WHO ICD-11 classification. "This will open up possibilities of large-scale scientific evidence generation in Ayush sector and increased credibility of its usage across the globe," the official said. 

The ICD classification, he said, will also help in medical insurance coverage, creation of insurance packages and insurance portability, and boost medical value travel for Ayush care.

PM Modi also raised the issue of organ donation, "In recent years, many people in India donated their organs after their death. This decision saves multiple lives."

Source: Healthworld