0
0
New Delhi, 13 September 2024 – The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) hosted a groundbreaking two-day Global Technical Consultation Group meeting on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Global Health: Advancing Traditional Medicine.” Held in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) and the Department of Digital Health and Innovation, this hybrid event concluded with promising developments, setting the stage for the launch of a technical brief on AI in traditional medicine by October 2024.
Over 60 participants from 15 countries, including representatives from global organizations like WHO and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), attended the consultation. The meeting marks a critical step towards deeper international collaboration in harnessing AI for global health while advancing the practice and integration of traditional medicine. Notably, the participants aim to develop a WHO-WIPO guidance on AI and intellectual property, using traditional medicine as a key focus area. Additionally, a global repository on traditional medicine with AI applications and a training module for traditional medicine experts will be developed within the coming year.
National Health Policy 2017 Envisioned Integration of Digital Tools
During the inaugural session, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, emphasized the importance of integrating digital technologies, such as AI, into healthcare. He highlighted the vision of the National Health Policy 2017, which advocates for the adoption of e-health, m-health, cloud computing, IoT, and AI to strengthen healthcare delivery systems. These digital tools are vital for promoting Ayush services and facilitating information exchange, thereby enhancing community healthcare.
Kotecha also outlined the Ayush Grid initiative, a comprehensive IT backbone for traditional medicine in India, designed to align with the Ayushman Bharat framework. The Ayush Grid aims to bridge traditional medicine with cutting-edge digital innovations, reinforcing India’s healthcare infrastructure.
Global Perspectives on AI’s Role in Traditional Medicine
Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director of AIIA, expressed optimism about the outcomes of the consultation. “This global consultation is an invaluable opportunity to refine the draft policy on AI in traditional medicine. With contributions from a diverse array of experts, we are confident about launching the technical brief by October 2024,” she said.
Dr. Manoj Jhalani, Director of Health Systems at WHO SEARO, underscored the potential of AI to revolutionize traditional medicine. He noted that AI, through advanced data analytics, could facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches and the optimization of existing treatments, thereby enhancing the global significance of traditional practices.
Sameer Pujari, Lead of AI and Digital Frontiers at WHO, highlighted the ongoing efforts of the WHO-ITU-WIPO Global Initiative on AI for Health. He explained that this initiative is focused on creating normative products like the forthcoming technical brief on AI in traditional medicine. It also fosters a community of practice for knowledge exchange and supports governments in implementing AI-related health policies.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Healthcare
Dr. Karthik Adappa, Regional Advisor for Digital Health at WHO SEARO, pointed to the rapid growth of AI in healthcare. However, he cautioned that inequalities persist, particularly in underdeveloped regions. The Southeast Asia Government AI Readiness Index, discussed at the meeting, highlighted an increasing digital divide between developed and developing nations, posing challenges related to infrastructure, privacy, and ethical AI implementation.
The consultation also featured a panel of distinguished international experts, including Fei Jiao from WIPO/UN, Maki Kajiwara from WHO TMC, Dr. Jeremy Y. Ng from Canada, and Dr. Kai Siang from Malaysia, along with representatives from AIIMS, Wipro, and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). Discussions centered on AI’s potential to revolutionize traditional medicine while addressing challenges related to intellectual property, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations.
Looking Ahead: A Global Collaboration on AI and Traditional Medicine
The successful conclusion of this global consultation highlights the potential of AI to advance traditional medicine on an international scale. As Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha reiterated, “The integration of digital technologies is crucial to enhancing healthcare delivery and ensuring the global relevance of traditional medicine.”
The event sets the foundation for a broader international collaboration aimed at harnessing AI for global health, paving the way for innovations in both traditional and modern healthcare practices.
