In a landmark recognition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged India as the first country to establish a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)—a pioneering global initiative safeguarding indigenous medical wisdom. The accolade was highlighted in WHO’s technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine.”
The brief notes that India’s TKDL—originally launched in 2001—has been instrumental in integrating Artificial Intelligence with traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, and Homeopathy. The initiative forms a key part of WHO’s first-ever roadmap for applying AI in traditional medicine.
The Ministry of Ayush welcomes this recognition as a testament to India’s leadership in creating a robust scientific ecosystem for traditional medicine. It also reaffirms the country’s commitment to fostering global collaboration and responsible innovation, as envisioned under WHO’s broader framework for AI and traditional medicine.
