Context: Recently, The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad, as a WHO Collaborating Centre (CC) for “Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine” (CC IND-177).

• The recognition is granted for Four years, starting from June 3, 2024

Responsibilities of NIIMH as CC IND-177

• Assisting WHO in standardizing terminologies for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa.

• Assisting WHO in updating the Traditional Medicine Module-II for the Eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

• ??ICD is the international standard for systematic recording, reporting, analysis, interpretation, and comparison of mortality and morbidity data.

• It also includes a dedicated chapter on traditional medicine. 

• Module 2 of the supplementary chapter on traditional medicine conditions under ICD 11 is dedicated to Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani data and terminology.

• Support Member States in developing research methodologies for Traditional Medicine.

About NIIMH

• Genesis: Established in 1956

• Nodal Ministry: NIIMH is a unit of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush.

• Mandate: To documenting and showcasing medico-historical research in Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy, Biomedicine, and related healthcare disciplines in India.

• It is known for its extensive collection of research materials on the History of Medicine, making it accessible globally.

• It supplies resource materials for historians, scientists, and researchers interested in the historical aspects of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, and Sowa Rigpa) along with Modern Medicine.

• It is the only institution of its kind in Southeast Asia, dedicated to the medico-historical research of traditional and modern medicine.

• NIIMH houses more than 500 physical manuscripts, alongside the Medical Heritage Museum and Library, featuring rare books and manuscripts dating back to the 15th century AD.

Initiatives of NIIMH for promoting Traditional Medicine research

• Publication: Journal of Indian Medical Heritage

Digital Initiatives 

• AMAR Portal: Catalogues 16,000 Ayush manuscripts (it includes digitized manuscripts, rare books, etc.) 

• National Ayush Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic (NAMSTE) portal: Provides standardized terminologies & morbidity codes for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine.

• Showcase of Ayurvedic Historical Imprints (SAHI) portal: Showcases various medico-historical artefacts

• Other: e-Books of Ayush, Ayush Research Portal