‘Alternate system of medicine going through transitional phase, will reclaim its position’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Monday stated that both homeopathy and allopathy take different trajectories to achieve the same goal of curing people.
He called for giving space to Unani medicine so that it gets a level-playing field and integrates effectively into the State’s public health services. “I hope the Health Minister shows us the way in facilitating revival of homeopathy so that it regains the stature it enjoyed in old times when it had panacea to our ills,” he added.
The Chief Minister made these observations after inaugurating a global conference on Unani Medicine, organized by Directorate of Indian System of Medicine, here at SKICC this morning.
The two-day Conference, which has attracted a large number of delegates from all over the world including US, UK, Germany, Sri Lanka and UAE, was earlier scheduled last year but could not be held due to devastating floods.
Minister for Health & Medical Education, Ch. Lal Singh and Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash, were also present on the occasion.
Asking the delegates to play their role in helping homeopathy reclaim its position in the country’s healthcare system, the Chief Minister said the alternate system of medicine is going through a transitional phase and the research being carried out will help dispel many fears and doubts that have emerged about its efficacy.
“I hope you will put your heads together and strategize to again make homeopathy a viable and trusted healthcare option in the country,” he said, while referring to the various sessions in which the conference delegates will discuss and share their thoughts.
Referring to the predilection of people for taking medicines for ‘instant results’ in a fast-moving world, Mufti Sayeed pointed out the efficacy of homeopathy as a time-tested system which still has a wide acceptance among masses in our country. “The Health Department will have to travel an extra mile to promote Unani medicine in times when its mainstream counterparts like allopathy are making huge strides and gaining popularity,” he said, while identifying alternate system of medicine as one of the key components of AYUSH.
Describing J&K as a rich repository of medicinal plants, the Chief Minister said J&K can significantly contribute towards ever-expanding herbal medicinal market. “India, being centre of alternate medicine and global leader in Unani medicine, holds a huge potential in this sector,” he stated.
Highlighting J&K’s unique cultural heritage and diversity, Mufti Sayeed said J&K can position itself as an ideal destination in herbal tourism. “I take this opportunity to advise the Department to work towards setting up herbal gardens and specialized therapy units at key tourist destinations across the state,” he said, while asking the Tourism and ISM Departments to work in tandem to attract herbal tourists.
Referring to the surge in global trade in herbal supplements and remedies which has grown to US $93 billion this year, the Chief Minister said a large section of population still relies on age-old traditional approach of homeopathy that uses herbal supplements towards healthy living and general wellbeing.
The Chief Minister hoped the ISM Department would continue to hold such conferences in future so that knowledge and best practices are shared by all stakeholders for further growth of the Unani system of medicine.
Also present were Advisor, Ministry of AYUSH, GoI, Dr. Rais-ur-Rehman, Commissioner / Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Dr. M. K. Bhandari, Director General, ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir and President World Unani Foundation, Mr. Mohsin Dehlvi.
A number of departments and universities including Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Jamia Hamdard University besides Kashmir University are among others who are participating in the Conference.
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