India and Germany Strengthen Traditional Medicine Cooperation at Berlin Meeting

The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and the Federal Ministry of Health, Germany, convened the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine in Berlin from 18 to 20 November 2025, marking another significant step in advancing Indo-German cooperation in the field of traditional and integrative healthcare. The meeting brought together senior officials and experts from both nations to strengthen bilateral engagement and explore concrete pathways for collaborative advancement in traditional medicine systems.​ The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Monalisha Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush. The German side was represented by Paul Zubeil, Head of Division European and International Health Policy.

Three Core Pillars of Collaboration

The discussions centred on three key pillars integrating traditional medicine into public health systems, establishing reimbursement pathways for patient access, and strengthening regulatory approval mechanisms. These themes reflect the shared commitment of both nations to foster evidence-based and people-centred traditional medicine practices.​

Institutional Engagements

Key engagements of the visit included technical exchanges at the Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine, Charité University, to explore collaborative research opportunities and advance the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Ayush. The delegation also visited Community Hospital Havelhöhe – Clinic for Anthroposophic Medicine to review integrative care and research practices, and held detailed discussions with the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) on insurance and reimbursement mechanisms relevant to traditional medicine.​

Expert's Take

Dr. Ravishankar Polisetty, the visionary behind Sai Ganga Panakeia, reflects on how the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting on Alternative Medicine - "The Indo-German collaboration announced by the Ministry of Ayush is an excellent step toward advancing traditional and integrative healthcare on a global platform. These efforts will undoubtedly strengthen research, regulatory convergence, and patient access. At the same time, it is important that the evolution of integrative medicine moves beyond the current trend of practicing Ayurveda as a form of herbal allopathy. A scientifically robust integration requires correlating modern homeostatic balance with the Vata–Pitta–Kapha physiological architecture across tissues and organ systems. This approach—central to the I-PRISM framework—calls for multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research. Such precision-driven methodology can help position India as a leader in evidence-based, personalized integrative medicine."

Globalisation and Objectives

The mission reflects the Ministry of Ayush's strategic efforts to globalise Ayush systems, create robust frameworks for evidence-based integration, and strengthen high-value international partnerships that enhance India's footprint in the global traditional medicine landscape. The Ministry affirmed that sustained collaboration with Germany will help accelerate research, regulatory harmonisation, and patient access to integrative healthcare solutions rooted in safety, quality, and scientific validation.