This document discusses the need to revitalize and reform Unani medical education and research in India. It notes that infrastructure and resources for AYUSH education and research under the Ministry of Health are insufficient. The curriculum for Unani medicine courses needs to be updated and evidence-based. Management should ensure transparent admission processes and recruit qualified faculty. Increased government funding is also needed to support improved education, facilities, and clinical research on Unani medicines. Overall reforms are necessary to strengthen Unani medicine and validate its therapies through scientific studies and global standards.

1. Status of Education and Research
of Unani System of Medicine:
A Need for Revitalization and
Reform
Dr. Abdul Latif
Department of Ilmul Advia
Faculty of Unani Medicine
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

2. INTRODUCTION:
Since imparting of education is a process of
skill development through learning, those fail to attain
a targeted level of achievement often drops out from
the system.
Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy
(AYUSH) are emerging as preventive and curative
therapies since the ancient times. There is insufficient
infrastructure available in our country for AYUSH
under the supervision of Ministry of Health and F.W.
Govt. of India, Dept. of AYUSH and Central Council
of Indian Medicine (CCIM).

3. There are very less number of Unani Medicine
degree holders who are practicing totally in their own
system of medicine. Research facilities and
postgraduate colleges are negligible according to
number of AYUSH graduates. The grants and funds
are poorly allocated insufficient to meet the
expenditures on education and research. One of the
most important area of research in ISM is clinical
trial research because these system of medicine is
being used in the treatment of various diseases since
centuries.

4. As USA is now imparting clinical trial
research on Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM) under the aegis of the National
Institute of Health (NIH) for its recognition and
popularization in the entire world. So, ISM
researchers should also come forward to show
ISM drugs effectiveness and recognition to the
entire world through the clinical trial research.

5. This paper concerns that how to
attempt to revitalize the Unani Medical
education and Research to meet multiple
needs– curricula, management, clarity and
transparency in the process of admission and
recruitment of faculty.

6. CURRICULA ASPECTS:
Comprehensive approach to the policies on syllabi
and training programme of UnaniMedical education has
been lacking. The educational policies framing and
designing for syllabi by CCIM have not been integrated
with the development and welfare for the UnaniMedicine.
There is no proper linkage between the teachers involved
in teaching of UnaniMedicine and those with modern
scientific outlooks for framing of
Education
good policies for
syllabi and training /
practical programs
of Unani courses.

7. Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)
It may also be suggested that
Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)
curriculum in ISM courses must be taken
into consideration. The introduction of EBM skills to
students during a clinical clerkmanship provides
students an opportunity to practice EBM skills and
reinforces the use of evidence in making patient care
decisions.

8. Revival of the Curricula of UnaniMedicine Courses
So,it is very necessary to revive the curricula of
UnaniMedicalcourses. The existing system of CCIM,
which is responsible for prescribing of curriculum, is
unable to frame a need-based education. We should
also follow the guidelines of UGC.to take care of
lacuna,
and shortcomings in existing
curricula. Furthermore the
curricula should also be regularly
monitored and suitable changes
be incorporated according to the
needs

9. MANAGEMENT:
Admission Policy,Recruitment of Faculty
and Funding Resources: It is the management that
gives mandate, power to the Heads of the Faculty
for achievement of the goals and objectives. The
role of management are multiple as it is involved
in creation, sustenance and
growth and development of
institution under its control.

10. Transparent Process for Admission and efficient faculty:
It is also very important point to ensure a clean and
transparent process for admission and recruitment of
excellent and efficient faculty So, management has a
significant role in the admission policy and practice. The
most important factor in ensuring excellence of teaching,
learning and evaluation is the quality of the faculty. Faculty
development programme is of prime importance such as
participation of seminar, symposia, conferences, orientation,
refresher courses and research publications. These are the
factors for updating the quality of a teacher.

11. Development of infrastructure and learning resources
The positive role of management is also
necessary in the development of infrastructure and
learning resources. Infrastructure, laboratory equipment
should be both adequate and appropriate and as per
norms of CCIM and UGC. Every department requires
necessary equipments for teaching and research.
Students and staff should have to access to the use of
new technology including Internet facilities. I think
there is no audio-visual laboratory functioning in any
ISM college for the teaching and learning aid to the
ISM students.

12. Financial Management & Resources:
It was reported earlier by me that Government of India
had sanctioned more than1000 crores rupees to ICMR
while at the same time only upto Rs.1214 crore was
allocated during current year for ayush development.
Therefore it is very important
that government of India and
states government should
increase the grants of funds for
the education as well research
for AYUSH.

13. Teaching, Learning and Research:
Teaching has been regarded as a noble
profession requiring virtues of selfless sincere
service and dedication. Teaching is an art of
proficiency; it’s a form of communications. It can be
learned through practice. So,
teachers should learn some
techniques for improvement
of their teaching. A teacher
should know the students that
how much they are learning.

14. Research:
APJ Abdul Kalam, His Excellency, the former
president of India at a convocation address on 27
December 2005 has said, “Any university is judged by
the level and extent of the research work it accomplishes.
The sets in a regenerative cycle of excellence.
Experience of research leads to quality teaching and
quality teaching imparted to the young in turn enriches
the research. Research brings transformation and
development and also enhances the quality of education.”

15. Research and consultancy:
Research and consultancy are
not mandatory like teaching and
evaluation. It is a voluntary service
where motivation is needed to conduct
research and consultancy particularly
in Unani colleges. Professionally
qualified teachers of UnaniMedicine
should come forward to encourage
taking up consultancy in the areas of
their specialization. So, a beautiful
monetary gain and benefits will be shared
with the colleges like NBRI, CIMAP,
ICMR.

16. The infrastructure of the ISM colleges should be as
per norms of the CCIM or other councils and UGC are not
available in ISM colleges so far. We have different ISM
councils for research but their scientist and researchers are
not at par with other councils and research institute like
NBRI, CIMAP, ICMR. ISM council’s research works are
not publishing in recognized or reputed international
journals, which have impact factors. Not only ISM but
about CAM which is now popularizing by USA, Mr.
Marusic criticize the CAM in his article entitled
“Complementary and alternative medicine – a measure of
crisis in academic medicine” published in Croatian Medical
Journal that Academic medicine integrates both three of the
most honourable human activities treating the ill teaching
and research.

17. The quality that all three share is persistent quest for
truth. However, there is reluctance of academic medicine
today to openly defend. Scientific truth by challenging the
arguments and the very existence of “Complementary and
Alternative Medicine” (CAM). Further he added that there is
no sound proof of CAM effectiveness, no hypotheses on the
mechanism of their activities, nor scientific reports testing
them. CAM advocates maintain that CAM should be
recognized precisely because it is widely practiced and very
promising, that it has a special holistic/ human approach, and
works at least as a placebo in situations where medicine can
do nothing more. Scientists must raise their voice and question
the truthfulness of CAM more openly. He also suggested that
Randomized controlled clinical trials should be used to test
effectiveness of CAM, just as they are used to test any other
treatment.

18. The Clinical Trial
The need of clinical trials is that all medicines are
developed with the interaction of providing maximum benefits to
patients with minimum of adverse effects. I would like quote
here a national news in TOI regarding clinical trial research i.e.,
“Clinical research industry eyes Indian support”. Clinical
research is an integral part of R & D activity. With many global
pharmaceutical companies putting their drug development work
on the fast track, the growth of industry has been quite swift. The
industry in India is currently estimated about more than Rs.
1500crores and is expected to increase more day by day.The
industry need about 10,000 clinical trial professionals every year,
but only 600 qualified people are available said by Prof. S.K.
Gupta of ICRI.

19. The principle of good clinical practice (GCP) in clinical
trials has been internationally agreed. So, the clinical trial
research methodology, GCP should be incorporated in the
syllabi of ISM degree as well postgraduate courses. A very
recent news “Clinical Trials give Ayurveda a Scientific Edge” as
reported by Aparna Ramalingam of TNN that Ayurvedic drugs
might have gained a foothold abroad, but the going is not easy.
Clinical trials are mandatory requirement if these drugs have to
be retailed abroad. No wonder Ayurvedic drugs manufacturers
in India now understand clinical trial for their formulation. The
global market for herbal medicine is more $70 billion. The
Indian market is estimated to be Rs.4500crores and growing.
ISM medicine now undergoes a three-stage trial. Himalaya and
Dabur have trial their products scientifically. By undertaking
clinical trials, we are scientifically validating the efficacy safety
and non-toxicity of such formulations. However, the clinical
trial of every herbal formulations of ISM should be carried out
on the basis of WHO guidelines. So that globalization of ISM
products will be made easy and effective.

20. CONCLUSION
CCIM should setup a national level steering
committee by inviting the only subject teachers &
researchers having teaching and research experience and
it is further advised that intellectuals and scientist
associated with the subject concerned, who should also
invited to review the curriculum frameworkofAYUSH
graduate and postgraduate courses.
In the fast changing, resource-starved scenario there is
greater need of collaboration among agricultural
institutions, Research councils and research
laboratories, herbal garden and pharmaceutical industry
with UnainMedicalcolleges/ institutions.