Artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in a transformative era for traditional medicine. AI combines centuries-old healing systems with cutting-edge technologies. It creates safer, more personalized, effective, and accessible healthcare globally.
At the AI for Good Global Summit, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released a pivotal new technical brief: Mapping the application of artificial intelligence in traditional medicine. Launched under the Global Initiative on AI for Health, this brief provides a roadmap for harnessing AI’s potential responsibly, while simultaneously safeguarding cultural heritage and data sovereignty.
Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is practiced in 170 countries and utilized by billions of people. Its growing global popularity is fueled by an interest in holistic health approaches emphasizing prevention, health promotion, and rehabilitation.
The new brief highlights how AI is unlocking new frontiers in TCIM. Examples showcased include:
- Ayurgenomics: Utilizing AI-powered diagnostics for personalized care.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Employing machine learning models to identify medicinal plants in countries like Ghana and South Africa.
- Drug Discovery: Using AI to analyze traditional medicine compounds for treating blood disorders, as seen in the Republic of Korea.
“Our Global Initiative on AI for Health aims to help all countries benefit from AI solutions. It ensures that these solutions are safe, effective, and ethical,” said Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. “This partnership of ITU, WHO, and WIPO brings together the essential expertise.”
ETHICAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONSIDERATIONS
The brief emphasizes the critical need for high-quality, inclusive data. Participatory design is also crucial to ensure AI systems accurately reflect the diversity and complexity of traditional medicine. AI applications can significantly strengthen the evidence and research base for TCIM. For instance, platforms like India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and the Virtual Health Library in the Americas use AI to preserve Indigenous knowledge, promote collaboration, and actively prevent biopiracy—the unauthorized extraction or patenting of traditional knowledge or resources without compensation.
Edward Kwakwa, WIPO Assistant Director-General, stressed the role of intellectual property (IP). “Intellectual property is an important tool to accelerate the integration of AI into traditional medicine,” he said. WIPO’s efforts, including the recently adopted WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, support stakeholders in managing IP to deliver on policy priorities, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
SAFEGUARDING INDIGENOUS DATA SOVEREIGNTY
The document calls for urgent action to uphold Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov). AI development, it asserts, must be guided by Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles. The brief highlights community-led data governance models from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. It urges governments to adopt legislation that empowers Indigenous Peoples to control and benefit from their data.
“AI must not become a new frontier for exploitation,” cautioned Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems. “We must ensure that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are not only protected but are active partners in shaping the future of AI in traditional medicine.”
A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION
The global TCIM market is projected to reach nearly US$600 billion in 2025. AI’s application has the potential to accelerate the growth and impact of holistic healthcare. While the utilization of AI offers numerous opportunities, significant knowledge gaps and risks remain.
The brief stresses the need for developing holistic frameworks tailored to TCIM. These frameworks should address regulation, knowledge sharing, capacity building, data governance, and the promotion of equity.
The new technical brief calls on all stakeholders to:
- Invest in inclusive AI ecosystems that respect cultural diversity and IDSov.
- Develop national policies and legal frameworks explicitly addressing AI in traditional medicine.
- Build capacity and digital literacy among traditional medicine practitioners and communities.
- Establish global standards for data quality, interoperability, and ethical AI use.
- Safeguard traditional knowledge through AI-powered digital repositories and benefit-sharing models.
By aligning the power of AI with the wisdom of traditional medicine, a new paradigm of care can emerge—one that honors the past, empowers the present, and shapes a healthier, more equitable future for all.
