India and Germany have advanced their cooperation on traditional and integrative healthcare following detailed deliberations at the third Joint Working Group meeting on Alternative Medicine held in Berlin from November 18 to 20. The Ministry of Ayush said the discussions marked a significant step toward strengthening evidence-based traditional medicine in both countries through collaborative research, regulatory alignment and improved access for patients.
According to the ministry, the representatives of the two nations focused on three major pillars during the meetings: integrating traditional medicine into public health systems, developing reimbursement pathways to support patient access, and enhancing regulatory mechanisms to ensure the safe and efficient approval of traditional medicine products and therapies. These themes reflect a shared commitment to promote traditional medicine within a modern healthcare context while maintaining scientific rigour.
Delegates from India visited the Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine at Charité University to explore potential research collaborations and discuss a proposed memorandum of understanding between the institution and the Ministry of Ayush. Both sides examined opportunities to jointly conduct studies that could help establish stronger scientific validation for traditional therapies, particularly in areas where public demand is increasing. The visit was part of a broader effort to identify institutions capable of contributing to global recognition of Indian traditional medicine systems.
The delegation also met officials at the Community Hospital Havelhöhe, a well-known centre for anthroposophic medicine, to review their integrative care practices. The interactions centred on how such models blend complementary and conventional medical systems, offering insights that may help India refine its own integrative healthcare strategies. Officials noted that the observations from these visits would help inform how Ayush systems could be incorporated into mainstream care while preserving their traditional foundations.
A key component of the mission involved discussions with the Federal Joint Committee, Germany’s highest decision-making body for health insurance coverage. Conversations here focused on insurance and reimbursement mechanisms that could potentially apply to traditional medicine. The Ministry of Ayush said the engagement is expected to help build frameworks through which patients can receive coverage for validated traditional therapies, an essential step toward wider adoption in public health systems.
The Ministry added that sustained collaboration with Germany would accelerate research activities, harmonise regulatory standards and improve patient access to integrative healthcare solutions rooted in safety, quality and scientific validation. Strengthening regulatory cooperation is especially significant, officials noted, as global demand for Ayush products continues to rise. India has already signed around 25 country-to-country agreements aimed at promoting traditional medicine through knowledge exchange, training and policy support.
India’s traditional medicine sector has undergone rapid transformation over the last decade, expanding nearly eightfold while becoming a major contributor to the country’s healthcare economy. The Minister of State for Ayush recently noted that manufacturing revenues have grown from 21,697 crore in 2014-15 to more than 1.37 lakh crore today. The services sector within Ayush has generated an additional 1.67 lakh crore, demonstrating the rising relevance of traditional and integrative wellness services among the public.
Exports of Ayush and herbal products have also seen sustained growth, reaching 1.54 billion dollars across more than 150 countries. Officials say this global footprint underlines the need for stronger international partnerships that not only deepen research but also ensure regulatory clarity, market access and safety compliance.
The Ministry said the mission to Germany forms part of a larger strategy to globalise Ayush systems by establishing research-driven credibility. Strengthened collaboration with leading institutions abroad is expected to support the development of high-value data, contribute to evidence-based guidelines and refine protocols that align with global healthcare standards. The ministry added that these international partnerships help Indian systems gain recognition within modern healthcare while opening long-term opportunities for growth, innovation and wider patient adoption.
