Digital health and Ayurveda: Real-world best practices and applications

ABSTRACT: India has made significant strides through initiatives such as eSanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and the National Telemedicine Guidelines, aligning with global standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for accessible telehealth. Within Ayush, digitalization has taken shape through platforms such as Ayush Health Management Information System (A-HMIS), National Ayush Morbidity And Standardized Terminologies Electronic (NAMASTE) Portal, e-Aushadhi, and research repositories such as Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) and Ayush Research Portal (ARP). The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed telehealth adoption, spurring innovations such as tele-yoga and AyushQure, demonstrating the feasibility of integrative digital care. However, challenges persist in data interoperability, infrastructure, and ethical data governance, despite regulatory efforts like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023). Future growth hinges on creating interoperable, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-ready datasets through ABDM-compliant research repositories, promoting indigenous innovation, and encouraging mobile-based Ayush services to enhance community engagement, research translation, and personalized integrative health care. This review explores the evolving landscape of digital health and its integration with Ayush systems in India, highlighting policies, platforms, and future potential. Digital health encompasses a wide array of technologies, including Telemedicine, AI, Machine Learning (ML), big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), and wearable devices, which together aim to improve accessibility and efficiency in healthcare delivery. This review offers a critical analysis of the integration of digital technology in Ayurveda and suggests a plan for establishing a data-driven digital Ayurveda ecosystem.