India and Germany held the 3rd Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Alternative Medicine from 18–20 November 2025 in Berlin, further strengthening their partnership in traditional and integrative healthcare.
The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Monalisha Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, comprised Prof. (Dr.) Rabinarayana Acharya, DG, CCRAS; Dr. Subash Kaushik, DG, CCRH; Dr. Koustabha Upadhyay, Adviser, Ministry of Ayush; and Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director, MDNY.
On the German side, senior officials including Paul Zubeil, Head of Division for European and International Health Policy; Prof. Dr. Georg Seifert, Head of the Competence Centre for Traditional and Integrative Medicine; Andrea Galle, CEO of BKK mkk; and Dr. Jaqueline Wiesner from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) participated in the deliberations, according to PIB.
The talks focused on three major areas:
- integrating traditional medicine into mainstream public health systems,
- creating reimbursement structures to improve patient access, and
- strengthening regulatory pathways for approval of traditional medicine practices and products.
These priorities underline the commitment of both nations to promote traditional medicine based on evidence, safety, and patient-centric care.
Key interactions during the visit included:
- Discussions at Charité University’s Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine on joint research and progress on a proposed MoU with the Ministry of Ayush.
- A review of integrative treatment and research practices at the Community Hospital Havelhöhe, known for Anthroposophic Medicine.
- Detailed consultations with Germany’s Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) on insurance coverage and reimbursement models for traditional medicine therapies.
The Ministry of Ayush stated that the visit aligns with its broader strategy to globalize Ayush systems, strengthen research-oriented and evidence-backed integration, and build strong international collaborations. Continued engagement with Germany is expected to boost research, streamline regulatory processes, and expand patient access to safe and scientifically validated integrative healthcare solutions.