By Our Correspondent / Surat
People in Gujarat have demanded establishment of a national Unani university in the state on the lines of Ayurvedic University. At the 28th National Convention of Unani Doctors under the aegis of the All India Tibbi Congress-Gujarat state here recently, speakers have forcefully pitched the demand of Unani University arguing that it would be in line with the present central government’s policy of promoting Indian traditional medicine systems in the country.
They pointed out the Gujarat government has set up an Ayurvedic University in the state which is a welcome move to encourage Indian medicine. Supporting the demand, the Gujarat Ayurvedic Board chief Dr. Hansmukh Soni said the Unani institution is necessary for promoting the Unani system of medicine in the state. He assured that the Unani will be given due representation in the Gujarat Ayurvedic Board and the Board is making all efforts that CCRUM gets a seat in the Board. In this regard, we will issue a notification shortly, he informed the convention. He said it is for the first time that the representative body of Unani practitioners has knocked the doors of Gujarat and the convention will give new momentum to the promotion of Unani medicine in the state.
All India Tibbi Congress president Prof Mushtaq Ahmad said it is a genuine demand of the Unani fraternity and we hope the Gujarat government will give it due to consideration. He said the present government has accorded equal status to the Indian traditional medicines by set upping the separate ministry named as AYUSH. In this context, it is incumbent upon the Gujarat government to set up the Unani institution as neighboring state government in Rajasthan has recently established a Unani College there, Prof Ahmad said, who is also a former Dean of Unani Medicine in Durban University (South Africa).
On the occasion, Gujarat State Tibbi Congress president Dr. Akbar Shargaonkar said Unani medicine has immense potential in the state and more and more people are turning towards traditional medicines because of costly treatment of Allopathy.
Tibbi Congress secretary general Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan also spoke in the convention and provided a glimpse of Tibbi Congress activities in protecting the interest of Unani medicine in the country. He also urged participants to remain vigilant and active in the cause of the Unani Tibb.
The Convention also passed a host of resolutions concerning with the Unani medicine in the country.
Dr Nijaish Patel, president Gujarat Ayurvedic Association, Dr Bharat Bhogar, and Dr Kmlesh Raj Gaur, members of CCIM Gujarat, Dr Vishnu Bhai Patel, convener BJP medical Cell, Prof Qamaru Zaman (Deoband), Dr Samiullah Khan Pathan, Dr S M Husain, president Maharashtra Tibbi Congress and other also spoke at the convention.