To support the standardized development of traditional medicine within global health systems, China has actively contributed to building an international classification system for traditional medicine under the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy. In 2009, WHO launched the International Classification of Traditional Medicine (ICTM) program, with the primary goal of incorporating traditional medicine into the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The ICTM Working Group at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, under the guidance of the National and Shanghai Administrations of Traditional Chinese Medicine and with support from experts across China, diligently implemented the program. After a decade of effort, ICD-11, including traditional medicine chapters, was officially adopted at the World Health Assembly in 2019, marking a historic breakthrough in ICD's century-long history and establishing a TCM theory-based classification system as an international standard. 

In 2014, with approval from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine established the Research and Service Evaluation Center for International Classification of Traditional Medicine (the Center) as a core platform for WHO ICTM programs. The Center's responsibilities include: (i) undertaking international monitoring and evaluation projects on traditional medicine commissioned by WHO and Chinese authorities; (ii) researching and collecting statistical information on WHO traditional medicine; (iii) continuously improving, training, and applying traditional medicine chapters in ICD; and (iv) conducting research on international traditional medicine services.

In 2018, the Traditional Medicine Reference Group (TMRG) was established under the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), with Professor Dou Danbo and Professor Kenji Watanabe as its first Co-Chairs. TMRG collaborates with other WHO-FIC advisory groups to integrate traditional medicine classifications with core WHO-FIC systems (ICD, ICF, ICHI) and provides evaluation and decision-making support for the continued development of traditional medicine classifications.

Going forward, the platform will continue to improve the international classification system for traditional medicine, strengthen alignment with international standards and national health statistics networks, promote the integration and application of TCM in global healthcare, and contribute Chinese solutions to global health governance.