India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC) has sent SOS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to bring Unani System of Medicine at par with Ayurveda and a separate seat in National Commission of Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
In a letter to PM, the National President of AIUTC Prof Mushtaq Ahmad said Modi’s `Sab ka Saath. Sab Ka Vikas’, need to find its place in dealing with the AYUSH system of medicine by providing all branches with equal opportunity for growth and practice.
“Traditional Indian system of medicine has received extra attention of the government and prime minister has himself on many occasions advocated the practice of the AYUSH system of medicine to their full potential and to promote these systems through scientific research and quality education,” he said.
Demanding representation in NCISM, he said the commission is to be constituted by the government of India in accordance with the NCISM Bill passed by both the Houses of Parliament to replace the IMCC Act of 1970.
“While the AIUTC supports the imitative for reforms in medical education and practice of Indian system of medicine providing the availability of adequate and high-quality medical professions, adoption of the latest medical research by medical professions of ISM, periodic assessment of medical institutions and effective grievance redressal mechanism. But at the time, the AIUTC would like to convey the dissatisfaction and resentment of the Unani fraternity for belittling the Unani system of medicine by giving it unequal treatment. The principle of natural justice demands equality amongst prevailing systems because of their individual special philosophical approaches and basic values. Hence there is a need that such a system is allowed to develop according to its own people,” he said.
Prof Mushtaq said the National Commission shall have 29 members which will include inter alia president of the board of Ayurveda and Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa Rigpa.
“In all fairness, we demand representation of Unani system in the commission also by providing a separate board for this system for appropriate representation. In the absence of such an arrangement at any given time, the interest of only one system will be represented. Similarly, advisor (Ayurveda) in the Ministry of Ayush has been given places in the board for Ayurveda where advisor (Unani) is absent from the Board. This I am sure your honour will agree that it is not fair. There is a need that advisor (Unani) or for that matter advisor (Siddha) may also be given a place on the same lines of Ayurveda system,” he said.
Stating that the Government of India has granted permission to Ayurveda post-graduate doctors to perform surgeries in Ophthalmology, and ENT, the AIUTC president said similar permission is yet to be granted to the postgraduate doctors of Unani system of Medicine, though the curriculum and syllabus prescribed is identical and basic requirements for the systems are at par.
“Ilmul Jerrahat (surgery) has been in practice in the Unani system of medicine since ancient times. Ibn e Zuhr (Avenzoar)(1093-1162 AD) has been a great surgeon on record to have performed Tracheotomy and also the first on record to have introduced practical training before practice of surgery….Subject or Jaarahat (surgery) at the postgraduate level is taught in faculty of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University and National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore,” he said.
Prof Mushtaq also regretted that the Centre did not sanction any new posts of medical officers in Unani though it was sanctioned for Ayurveda and Homeopathy streams.
“Recently the government India has sanctioned new posts of medical officers for Ayurveda and Homeopathy under CGHS, but no new sanctions have been done for Unani and Siddha systems of medicine which have generated a feeling of neglect among professionals and well-wishers of Unani system of Medicine,” he said.
All India Unani Tibbi Congress urged the Prime Minister to issue directions to AYUSH ministry to treat all Indian systems of medicine equally and redress the grievances of the Unani doctors.
“It is most sincerely hoped that the issues concerning the Unani System of Medicine as detailed above are considered and favourably dealt with so that the fraternity does not feel sidelined. It is necessary to keep their morale high so that they continue providing equal opportunity to all recognized systems of treatment. For this purpose, we request PM to issue necessary direction to concerned Ministry of Ayush to solve our problems,” Prof Mushtaq added.
