The conference was themed on ‘Unani Medicine: Opportunities and Challenges in times of COVID-19’
The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India organised a hybrid virtual National Conference on Unani Medicine.
The conference themed on ‘Unani Medicine: Opportunities and Challenges in times of COVID-19’ was inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (I/C), Youth Affairs & Sports, Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Riga and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) & Minister of State, Minority Affairs, Government of India in the presence of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH; Pramod Kumar Pathak, Additional Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH; Prof Asim Ali Khan, Director General, CCRUM and Dr M. A. Qasmi, Joint Advisor (Unani), Ministry of AYUSH.
Inaugurating the conference Rijiju stated that Unani Medicine, enriched with the best of knowledge of various civilisations, is the most capable system to ensure the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being of people. He further stated that the Ministry of AYUSH created under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done commendable work in medical research and healthcare delivery, especially the role played during the COVID-19 pandemic has been exceptional.
Shripad Yesso Naik in his recorded video message applauded the contribution of AYUSH stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19.
Addressing the conference Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said that Unani Medicine and CCRUM played an important role in the fight against COVID-19. He highlighted the MoU with WHO for the standardisation of AYUSH terminologies for incorporation in ICD-11 and the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of AYUSH for the integration of IT into AYUSH healthcare delivery like NAMSTE Portal, A-HMIS, etc., and applauded the contribution of CCRUM in these initiatives.
The dignitaries released Conference Souvenir, ‘A Handbook of Common Remedies in Unani Medicine’ and ‘Research on Fundamentals of Unani Medicine – A Summary of Studies Conducted by CCRUM’in the inaugural sessionand ‘Clinical Study of a Unani Formulation – MaʿjūnNisyān in Nisyān (Amnesia)’, ‘Compendium on Patents Granted to CCRUM’ and ‘Medicinal Plants for Longevity’published by the CCRUM in the valedictory session.