KARACHI: Alternative medicine in general and Eastern (Unani) in particular have great potential, therefore “we are going to facilitate this particular discipline and establish a separate section of Eastern medicine in the Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan (Drap)”.
According to a statement, this was stated by Dr Allah Bukhsh Malik, federal secretary of health services, regulation and co-ordination, the other day while addressing the 5th Hamdard International Conference held on the theme: ‘Global Popularity of Alternative Medicine, Responsibilities and Challenges’ at Bait al-Hikmah, Hamdard University (HU), Karachi. The event was presided over by Mrs Sadia Rashid, president of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan and chancellor of HU.
He said he had a personal association with Hakim Mohammed Said since he met him in 1983. He said he found him an embodiment of the ideal of Pakistan.
Prof Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari, president of the National Council for Tibb, ministry of health Islamabad, said: “Western and Eastern medicines are international cousins so are doctors and hakims. For you it is a great news that the government has decided to establish a hospital of Eastern medicine in Islamabad.”
In her presidential address, Sadia Rashid said: “We are happy that Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik is visiting Madinat al-Hikmah, the city of education, science and culture, for the first time. We are also delighted that he has visualised the importance and significance of alternative medicines.”
She said Pakistan exported many medicinal flora in raw form. “According to statistics, Pakistan has the potential to export value-added compounded herbal medicines and health supplements worth billions of dollars.” She emphasised on exploring more opportunities.
Prof Dr Anwarul Hasan Gilani, Vice Chancellor of Haripur University, said the integration of herbal medicine in healthcare system was the concept of Hakim Said, communicated by him 70 years ago. “This is what very much is needed today”, he said, adding: “It is the system which ensures quality and there should be no compromise on it as quality is most responsive for the survival of herbal medicine.”
He said: “Herbal medicine is our heritage and when in chronic disease allopathy fails Unani medicine cures.”
Prof Dr Rashid A.H. Bhika, chairman of Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb, South Africa, in his video message paid rich tribute to Hakim Mohammed Said. He said he was his mentor, a multidimensional personality, and man of vision who was versatile in Tibb.
Prof Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan, president of the Pakistan Association for Eastern Medicine and director research and development at Hamdard, also paid great tribute to Hakim Said.
Prof Dr Liu Xinmin, a member of advisory panel on traditional medicine of the WHO, also spoke.
Earlier, Prof Dr Shabibul Hasan, Vice Chancellor of Hamdard University, said: “The aim of the conference is to bring together leading experts of alternative medicine at one forum to realise the dream of Hakim Mohammed Said.”
Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020