Unani is affordable but needs more research

Despite there being a large network of allopathy based healthcare facilities in India, a large part of the population in remote towns and villages and in pockets in urban localities with low-income and marginalized categories still rely on the Unani system of medicine for treatment, which is affordable but still at an evolving state like any other traditional system of medicine.

According to historical accounts, the Unani system evolved from the Mesopotamian and Babylonian period and flowered during the Egyptian civilization. In India, however, it evolved since the Sultanate period. At the time of arrival of British colonial forces, it is said that about 80 per cent of the population still relied on the Unani healthcare system.

The Unani system of medicine makes use of certain special modes and regimens of diet, physical movements, lifestyle etc. and techniques such as Cupping (Hijama), Leeching (Ta’liq), Venesection (Fasd), Enema (Huqna), Irrigation (Nutool), Massage (Dalk), etc. to eliminate the morbid humours from the body (Tanqia).

As per Unani classical wisdom, improving immunity with immune boosters is one of the key approaches for prevention of disease and maintenance of health. The Unani system suffered and could not evolve into a popular system of treatment post- Independence. Today, there are a large number of unregistered along with registered practitioners of the system in the country, pointing to the popularity of Unani among the people who cannot afford the high cost of allopathic treatment. With the inclusion of Unani under the Ayush Ministry, focus has shifted to develop Unani into a more reliable and efficacious system.

According to some estimates, in 2020 there were 48,248 registered practitioners of Ayush Unani in India, which is only 6.8 per cent of the total registered 7, 12, 132 Ayush doctors. As per an Ayush ministry report ‘Ayush in India 2020’ there has been a decline in the number of practitioners per one crore of population from 5,896 in 2011 to 358 in 2020. Maharashtra is the only state with over 10,000 Ayush doctors per one crore population at 13, 143. The figure is 5000 per crore of population in states like Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Goa, Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar and Punjab.

Though there has been an increase in the number of registered Ayush doctors, taking into account the period between 1980 to 2020, the Unani system has seen a decline in terms of number of registered practitioners per one crore of population from 410 in 2011 to 358 in 2020.

The government report pointed to significant variation in the availability of Ayush doctors including those from Unani system per one crore of population since 1980. On an aggregate the figure has varied from 5,582 to 5,262 per crore of population during the period from 1980 to 2020, the highest being 6,774 in 2000 and lowest at 4,851 in 2019 and 5290 in 2020.

In a fresh initiative now the Ministry of Ayush and Minority Affairs have Joined hands to develop the Unani Medicine System. The aim is to promote and further develop the Unani system of medicine in India. With support of this scheme, Unani Medicine facilities are expected to be upgraded at Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Silchar and Bengaluru.

A centre for fundamental research in Unani Medicine at National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders, Hyderabad will be established at a cost of Rs 16.05 crores.

There is also a proposal to allocate Rs 8.15 crores for a preclinical laboratory facility at Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai. NIUM, Bengaluru will get Rs 5.55 Crores for establishing a Vishram Grah for patients’ attendants and Rs 4.26 Crores for a skill centre of model Unani cosmetic care, a small-scale Unani pharmacy and Unani crude drug storage.

With all these proposals, one hopes those who deserve them get the benefit of a safe and reliable Unani system of medicine.