PM Modi to Launch World’s First Digital Traditional Medicine Library at WHO Summit

The summit will also unveil an AI-powered bot to decode classical literature and interpret ancient texts in plain words, for a better understanding of traditional medicine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the stage for India's global leadership in traditional medicine as he prepares to launch the world's first Digital Traditional Medicine Library at the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit.

Dr Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, underlined that the effort reflects India’s continued push to blend traditional practices with modern digital capabilities.

"This global library is a collation of 2.5 million publications from across countries, putting together under one roof the entire wealth of information on traditional medicine. The library will be India's digital asset, but it will remain free for all in perpetuity," he added, pointing out that this idea emanated from the Prime Minister's remarks at the BRICS Summit in July, where he had called for a worldwide repository of traditional science and research.

India is hosting the second WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit from December 17-19, an event expected to attract delegations from over 100 countries.

Confirmations from over a dozen health ministers have already come in, and more than 20 health ministers are expected to attend in person, said Kotecha. “This is going to be the world’s largest event in traditional medicine,” he said.

The Digital Traditional Medicine Library is envisioned to consolidate knowledge in the areas of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, naturopathy, herbal sciences, and other indigenous practices.

It will help researchers, clinicians, and global institutes to study and analyze the traditional medical systems with ease on a single platform.

According to officials, this launch provides a great opportunity to integrate traditional medicine with international health systems and to promote evidence-based research while actively supporting world scientific collaboration.

This library is one of the most essential deliverables of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM), Jamnagar, Gujarat, a creation of the cooperation between India and the WHO in 2022.

“India will showcase innovations from research councils, digital health platforms and global collaborations. Logistical planning and security protocols are being executed at the highest level to host a world-class global health event," the officer said.

Another major draw at the summit will be the unveiling of an artificial-intelligence-powered bot intended to decode classical literature and interpret ancient texts in plain words, for a better understanding of traditional medicine.

The tool, in beta version, is under training to interpret traditional medicine for public understanding. In addition, the ministry will be ready to launch a digital botanical database, geospatial biodiversity mapping tools, digital pharmacopoeias, quality-control systems, and research-oriented data platforms.

The launch is expected to establish India as the most important hub for digital resources in traditional medicine, thereby fortifying the bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary scientific inquiry.

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