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). This recognition, effective from June 3, 2024, will last for four years.

NIIMH, established in 1956 and a unit under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, is dedicated to medico-historical research in various traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy, and Biomedicine.

Under the leadership of Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of CCRAS and Head of the WHO-CC, NIIMH achieved this milestone through its diligent efforts. Prof. Acharya stated, "This designation by WHO is a significant milestone, reflecting our relentless efforts in the field of traditional medicine and historical research."

NIIMH has pioneered various digital initiatives in the Ayush sector. The AMAR Portal catalogs 16,000 Ayush manuscripts, including 4,249 digitized manuscripts, 1,224 rare books, 14,126 catalogs, and 4,114 periodicals. The SAHI Portal showcases 793 medico-historical artifacts, while the e-Books of Ayush project provides digital versions of classical textbooks. The NAMASTE Portal compiles morbidity statistics from 168 hospitals, and the Ayush Research Portal indexes 42,818 published Ayush research articles.

The institute houses over 500 physical manuscripts and operates the Medical Heritage Museum and Library, featuring rare books and manuscripts dating back to the 15th century AD. Additionally, NIIMH publishes the Journal of Indian Medical Heritage.

In India, there are about 58 WHO Collaborating Centres across various biomedical and allied science disciplines. NIIMH, Hyderabad, joins two other institutions in the domain of Traditional Medicine: the Institute for Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi.

As the first WHO Collaborating Centre for "Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine," NIIMH will assist WHO in standardizing terminologies for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa, and update the Traditional Medicine Module-II for the Eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The Centre will also support Member States in developing research methodologies for Traditional Medicine.

This designation highlights the leadership of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary (Ayush), Government of India, and the technical guidance from Dr. Pawan Godatwar, Technical Officer, WHO-SEARO, New Delhi, and Dr. Pradeep Kumar Dua, Technical Officer, TM Unit, WHO Headquarters.

The WHO Collaborating Centre for "Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine" will be led by Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, along with a dedicated team including Dr. G. P. Prasad, Assistant Director I/c and Unit Head, Vaidya Saketh Ram Thrigulla, Research Officer (Ayurveda), and Dr. Santosh Mane, Research Officer (Ayurveda), NIIMH, Hyderabad, in coordination with the Literary and Fundamental Research team of CCRAS Headquarters.