Srinagar: Directorate of Indian System of Medicine (AYUSH) on Sunday organized a grand seminar to celebrate World Unani Day at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) here.
World Unani Day is a global event taking place every year on 11th of February which marks the birthday of great Unani scholar and social reformer “Hakim Ajmal Khan”.
The main objective of the celebration is to pay tribute to the legendary Hakim Ajmal Khan for his wonderful contribution in the sustained development of the Unani system of medicine in the country and the rest of the world.
Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, presided over the celebration.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary maintained that the Indian Systems of Medicine is an integral part of the Health and Medical Education fraternity and finds a very important place in the scheme of things.
He said that Unani is perceived as one of the most ancient and well documented systems of medicine equally relevant in modern times. The holistic approach of this system, whether for healthy individuals or for diseased ones, remains unparalleled, he asserted.
He said that there is no need for any system to supplant another system but to work in a complimentary manner drawing on the strengths of our system based on rationale, regulations, drug efficacy.
He said that it is critical that we have interdisciplinary training programmes with mainstream medicine.
The Secretary appreciated the work done by the Directorate of Ayush J&K and emphasised upon them to remain true to the ethics and engage in research and development so that people will have more faith.
He said that a lot will depend upon the practitioners on how they upheld the highest standards of ethics and indulge in research and evidence-based practices to validate the safety and mechanism of action of Ayush therapy.
Dr Rasheed said that Ayush Systems have a history of providing cure for thousands of years and the need of the hour is to augment modern research methodologies in Ayush so that an integrated approach is evolved for providing best health care facilities to the patients.
He emphasised on more capacity building programs for Ayush Medical and Para-Medical staff for better skill development.
He stressed on the need for further Research & Development programs in Ayush to make it popular across the globe.
Director AYUSH informed that under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, 483 Standalone Government Ayush Dispensaries have been upgraded to Ayush Health & Wellness Centres.
He further added that the Directorate of Ayush, J&K was awarded for NABH Accreditation in favour of 5 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres.
UNI