Government Expands Research and Integration Efforts in Unani Medicine

New Delhi: The central government is strengthening research and integration of the Unani system of medicine with modern healthcare.

The Ministry of Ayush has set up key institutions, including the Central Council of Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) in New Delhi and the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) in Bengaluru, to advance clinical research, as well as drug development.

A new 200-bed satellite institute of NIUM has also been established in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Expanding Clinical Research in Unani Medicine

CCRUM oversees 21 clinical institutes across the country, conducting studies on diseases such as arthritis, bronchial asthma, anemia, anxiety, hypertension, obesity and skin disorders like vitiligo.

The government aims to improve accessibility to Unani treatments through healthcare facilities at major hospitals, including Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and JJ Hospital in Mumbai.

To enhance regulatory oversight, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has introduced a competency-based curriculum for Unani education.

Additionally, the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) is setting quality standards for Unani medicines, aligning them with global norms under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.

Integrating Ayush with Modern Healthcare

The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) have launched initiatives to integrate Ayush with conventional healthcare.

The Ayush vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has developed Standard Treatment Guidelines for musculoskeletal disorders and conducted nationwide training programs for Ayush physicians.

The government is also co-locating Ayush facilities in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and District Hospitals (DHs) to give patients a choice of treatment under a single system.

Integrated Ayush departments have been set up at Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi to support interdisciplinary healthcare.