The two day International Conference on Unani Medicine organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) on 150th birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan concluded here today. “Hakim Ajmal Khan was a multidimensional personality and his contributions to the freedom movement, education, literature, social reform, and systemization of Unani Medicine had been immense”, said Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia addressing the Function. He said that it is a matter of pleasure that the Ministry of AYUSH through the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan as Unani Day.
The CCRUM also distributed AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine in recognition of contributions made by various Unani experts. The Best Research Paper Award was presented to Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmad for Literary Research, Dr. Shazia Anjum for Clinical Research and Dr. Nauman Saleem for Drug Research in Unani Medicine. The Young Scientist Award was conferred on Dr. Wasim Ahmad for Drug Research, Dr. Arshiya Sultana for Clinical Research and Dr. Bilal Ahmad for Literary Research in Unani Medicine. The Best Teacher Award was presented to Prof. Abdul Wadood for Drug Research and Prof. Mohd. Anwar for Clinical Research in Unani Medicine. The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Prof. Gufran Ahmad for Best Researcher in Unani Medicine and Prof. Mohammad Muhiul Haque Siddiqui for Best Academician in Unani Medicine.
The CCRUM also released a Special Postal Cover with Special Cancellation through Department of Post to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan and pay tribute to the saviour of indigenous systems of medicine and pioneer of scientific research in Unani Medicine.
On this occasion, the Chief Guest released seven publications of CCRUM namely; National Unnai Morbidity Codes, Medicinal Plants in Folklores of Southern Indian, Part III, Muhit-i-Azam - Volume IV (Urdu translation), Minhaj al-Dukkan wa-Dustur al-A’yan fi A’mal wa Tarakib al-Adwiya al-Nafi’a li’l-Abdan, Hakim Ajmal Khan: A Man of Exceptions, Tajwiz-i Jalil, and A Handbook of Activities and Achievements of CCRUM.
Hakim Syed Khalifatullah, former Vice President, Governing Body, CCRUM applauded the Ministry of AYUSH and CCRUM for celebrating Unani Day and said that it should be celebrated throughout the world. He also said that the AYUSH systems should be developed in a more modern and scientific manner.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rais-ur-Rahman, Advisor (Unani), Ministry of AYUSH said that the Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Shri Narendra Modi is making concerted efforts to promote and propagate Unani Medicine and other AYUSH systems and has created a separate ministry. He also said that the Ministry of AYUSH has facilitated CCRUM to start PhD and MD courses in Unani Medicine in affiliation with Jamia Millia Islamia, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences and University of Kashmir. He applauded the decision taken under the leadership of Shri Shripad Yesso Naik to observe 11th February as Unani Day saying that Hakim Ajmal Khan was the one who first brought Ayurveda and Unani systems under one roof and made commendable contribution to the development of Unani Medicine in India.
In her address, Dr. Vanitha R Murali Kumar, President, Central Council of Indian Medicine emphasized to work together for the promotion and propagation of AYUSH systems. He stressed the need to adopt modern technology for the development of indigenous medicine systems.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India laid emphasis on validation of traditional systems of medicine on scientific parameters.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Anil Khurana, Director General, CCRUM traced the research and development activities in Unani Medicine right from 1920 and the contribution made by Hakim Ajmal Khan who spotted Dr. Salīm al-ZamānṢiddīqī, a chemist, for undertaking chemical studies on some important medicinal plants, used in Unani System of Medicine.
The two-day international conference had deliberations on various topics related to Integration of Unani Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare including Unani System of Medicine: A Model of Integration, Bringing Unani System of Medicine to the Global Front: Science, Industry & Regulations, From Plant to Molecule - Generating Evidence, Identifying Steps for Generating Evidence and Moving from Research to Practice, Recent Advances in ‘Ilāj bi’l-Tadbīr (Regimen Therapy), Challenges and Way Forward for Globalization and Market Development for Unani System of Medicine, Unani System of Medicine in Public Health/ Primary Healthcare Delivery, Education in Unani System of Medicine: Bridging the Gaps, Standardization and Quality Control, New Drug Development, Certification and Accreditation of Raw Materials, Products, Unani Professionals and Healthcare Infrastructure. The conference was attended by about 500 international and national participants and resource persons from the USA, the UK, Bahrain, UAE, Israel, China, Hungary, Slovenia, Bangla Desh, Sri Lanka, Portugal, South Africa and India. The conference proved an ample platform to academia, researchers, regulators, industry and students.
Inauguration ceremony:
‘Lifestyle diseases are one of the major health challenges of the country, an area where integration of traditional and conventional medicine systems can play an important role’, said Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, MoS PMO and D/o Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitender Singhinaugurating a two-day International Conference on Unani Medicine organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) as a part of Unani Day celebration here in New Delhi.
Dr. Singh emphasized all-round development of indigenous systems of medicine with special focus on holistic management of diseases. He opined that all the physicians irrespective of system of medicine whether modern or traditional may be co-located for addressing the requirement of patients in holistic manner. Talking about Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose 150th Birth Anniversary on 11th February is being celebrated as Unani Day; he said that contribution made by him to the traditional medicine and to the nation was remarkable.
On this occasion, a MoU was signed between CCRUM and Hamdard University, Bangladesh to establish an “academic chair” in Unani System of medicine in Bangladesh. Hamdard University was represented by Dr. Abdul Mannan, Vice Chancellor. The aim of this MoU is to provide academic leadership to the institution, primarily through demonstrating and fostering excellence in teaching, research, and policy development related to Unani system of medicine at the varieties of levels within the discipline.
The Chief Guest also released the Conference Souvenir and Pictorial Album on Hakim Ajmal Khan depicting various aspects of his multidimensional personality published to pay tribute to him on his 150th birth anniversary.
In two day conference various national level eminent personalities and stakeholders from academia, industry, regulators, and researchers in the field of Unani Medicine are participating in deliberations. Besides national delegates, representatives from countries like South Africa, UK, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, USA, Portugal, UAE, Slovenia, Israel, Hungary, Bahrain, Tajikistan, etc are also attending the conference.
Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak said that this international conference which is themed on Integration of Unani Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare is in line with the objectives of the ministry towards mainstreaming of AYUSH in national healthcare. Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Sh. Roshan Jaggi in his address highlighted the efforts being made by the Ministry of AYUSH to promote rational medicine in national public health system through regulation of research and appropriate integration of quality products, practices, and practitioners into the health system so as to achieve universal health for all.
Addressing the conference, Hakim Syed Khalifatullah, former Vice President, Governing Body, CCRUM demanded that A&U Tibbia College should be upgraded as a national university of Unani Medicine. He emphasized that there should be a strong coordination between Medical Council of India and Central Council of Indian Medicine to come up with an integrative solution to address health challenges of the country.
Prof. Rais-ur-Rahman, Advisor (Unani), Ministry of AYUSH said that National Health Policy 2017 has been designed to ensure access to AYUSH remedies through co-location in public health facilities. Further, he said that the policy recognizes the need to standardize and validate Unani medicines and establish a robust and effective quality control mechanism for ASU & H drugs.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Anil Khurana, Director General, CCRUM briefed about the background behind organizing International Conference on the occasion of Unani Day. Keeping in view, the need for integration of various systems of health, it is essential to discuss and develop a strategy in this regard.