A three-day industry-institution interactive conference of Unani drug manufacturers, educationalists and researchers from various government agencies has started at Hamdard University, here from January 7. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is the main sponsor of the ‘National Workshop on Institute-Industry Interaction on Research in Unani Medicine to Identify Areas of Collaboration’. The interactions are expected to lead to the development of scientifically validated, safe, efficacious and cost effective Unani formulations.
Setting the agenda for discussions, Padma Vibhusan Prof MM Sharma, ex-director UDCT Mumbai and chairman, Expert Committee D& P Programme called for validating Unani medicines and thereby expand its markets into the developed world through collaborative research programmes. Citing the miniscule global presence of Indian drug industry, Prof Sharma wanted systems like Unani, which has assimilated the knowledge of several ancient civilizations, to produce drugs acceptable to the world market. “If Ginseng (a Chinese herbal drug) can prove to be a block buster drug and thereby prompt Korea to set up a separate institute to research on a single medicine, India could do much more,” he felt. Prof Sharma wanted Indian Unani manufacturers to make use of the scientific methods to validate their drugs.
The new secretary of AYUSH, M Shekhar Dutt also supported the view by saying that Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha practitioners should be happy to find that their drugs are being prescribed by allopathic doctors as well. Medical disciplines should interact, and the hidden IP strengths should be brought out. If Ayurveda is accepted by the US and Europe, it is because Ayurvedic teachings were made available to them in their language. “If you want to make unani popular, you need to open up. All textbooks of unani are in Urdu. Its only now translations have begun. You need to come out of isolation,” he said.
Dr GJ Samadhanam, director DST talked about the Drugs and Pharmaceutical Programme and the collaborative support they are offering to pharmaceutical companies. He felt that the interactive meeting would give birth to several linkages that are to be fruitful in the coming years.
Siraj Hussain, vice-chancellor, Hamdard University welcomed the delegates.
The companies participating in the interaction are Hamdard Laboratories, Dawakhana Tibbiya College, Rex (U&A) Remedies Pvt Ltd, Dabur, Simla Pharmacy, Laila Impex, Gharpure Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Indian Remedies, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Maisha (A& U) Remedies and Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Lrd.