Bringing trad med into the prescription

No more just 'Dadima ke nuskhe', India's traditional medicine has just taken a big step towards going global with GoI's agreement with WHO. Inclusion of 'trad med' in WHO's International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) will provide a structured approach to understanding and using these therapies globally. It opens the door to the inclusion of traditional Indian medicine as a vital component of modern healthcare.

Concerns about wellness and search for 'natural cures' have given traditional medicine a boost. Attention has also brought infamy, with many a 'snake-oil salesman' cashing in, especially since trad med was largely not codified, and because they were often made from extremely localised plant resources. In 2001, GoI set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) to remedy this situation and safeguard against biopiracy. The aim to systematically, and scientifically, convert and structure available knowledge on Indian systems of medicines such as ayurveda, siddha and unani was the first step to not see that the baby was thrown out with the bathwater. The next step is to ensure that genuinely therapeutic trad med systems are treated at par with modern medicine. Working with WHO makes this possible through standardisation, making it possible to integrate trad med into broader healthcare framework, ensuring it is recognised and utilised effectively.

Replicating genetic resources to develop mass-market meds creates economic opportunities for communities as keepers of genetic resources and knowledge. An agreement last year under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity makes this possible. The agreement with WHO adds another dimension to the economic opportunity through global standardisation and adoption.