AI Can Strengthen Traditional Medicine: WHO

AI is playing a growing role in traditional medicine, according to a new technical brief from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

Titled Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine, the document outlines a framework for responsibly integrating AI into traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), while protecting cultural knowledge and upholding ethical data practices.

TCIM is practiced in 170 countries and used by billions of people. Its growing global popularity is largely driven by demand for holistic approaches to health, emphasizing prevention and long-term well-being. The brief showcases AI applications in countries where these technologies are being used to support personalized treatment, improve diagnostic tools, identify medicinal plants, and analyze compounds for potential therapeutic use. 

The joint report also underscores the importance of high-quality and inclusive data to ensure that AI systems reflect the diversity and complexity of traditional knowledge. Initiatives such as India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and the Virtual Health Library in the Americas are highlighted as examples of how digital tools can help preserve Indigenous knowledge, promote research collaboration, and prevent biopiracy.

AI must not become a new frontier for inequality or misappropriation, Yukiko Nakatani, Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, WHO. Instead, Indigenous and local communities should be recognized as active partners in shaping the future of AI in healthcare. The report also acknowledges the role of intellectual property rights in this integration process. 

As the global market for TCIM is expected to approach US$600 billion by 2025, the application of AI could further accelerate the sector’s growth and broaden access to services, reads the report. However, it warns that this progress must be guided by regulation, inclusive policies, and evidence-based practices. Addressing existing knowledge gaps, ensuring equitable access, and building digital capacity among traditional medicine practitioners are presented as critical next steps.

The technical brief calls for collaborative international action to ensure AI contributes to safe, ethical, and sustainable healthcare systems. It advocates for the development of national legal frameworks, investment in digital infrastructure, global standards for interoperability, and benefit-sharing models that protect cultural heritage. By aligning the power of AI with the principles of traditional medicine, the organizations aim to support a model of care that is both innovative and grounded in centuries-old knowledge systems.