AI and Traditional Medicine: WHO and Global Partners Map a Responsible Future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing traditional medicine by enhancing safety, personalization, and accessibility. At the AI for Good Global Summit, the World Health Organization (WHO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched a new technical brief on AI applications in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM), used by billions worldwide.

The document outlines how AI is advancing drug discovery, biodiversity conservation, and Indigenous knowledge preservation—from AI-powered Ayurgenomics diagnostics to plant identification in Ghana and South Africa. It urges safeguards for Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and calls for frameworks that uphold ethical, equitable, and culturally respectful AI use.

With the TCIM market nearing $600 billion by 2025, the brief stresses the need for inclusive policy, regulation, digital literacy, and benefit-sharing models. Stakeholders are encouraged to align AI’s capabilities with traditional wisdom to shape a more equitable, holistic health future.

14-07-2025