Beneficial Unani

Muslim Murasu, January 2011

7,30,000 doctors and 9,30,000 nurses are rendering massive service in healthcare sector in India. Taking current prices into account, it is not possible to create a doctor without spending one crore rupees. Economic, cheap treatment cannot be expected from doctors who have invested heavily to garner their degrees.
One Unani doctor can be created for every 10000 population. Medicinal roots, honey and herbal products will be beneficial with low expense and without any side effects. Natural plants that are freely available in our land can be used to the hilt.
Dr B.C.Roy is one of the founders of Indian Medical Council. He became Chief Minister of West Bengal. He had it a habit to allot few hours every day to tend to poor people. He donated his house also. Today his organisation has grown to 1,78,000 doctors and 1700 branches. Unani sector is also in need of sacrificial people. Unani clinics should be opened in all 12,000 Muhallas. No point in banking on Government. In 1917, British government enacted law against Unani. Hakeem Ajmal Khan was national president of Indian National Congress. He organised agitation against government. There is no change even today. There is no significant support from government for Unani. Step-motherly attitude prevails. Yet Unani has grown as 40 colleges, 150 hospitals, 1500 clinics and 50,000-degree holders, thanks to relentless efforts of patronisers of Unani.
Sultans who ruled India between 1206 and 1527 gave due respect and developed Unani. Healthcare department of Central government showed interest in 1971. Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) that was started in 2001 catalogs 98,700 types of treatments. There are 22 national laboratories; central laboratories are located in Hyderabad and Lucknow.
Hamdard, started by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed in 1906, is manufacturing 450 Unani products. With a profit of 150 crore rupees, it is catering to the needs of 20 nations.
Even after thousand years, Muslims in Tamilnadu are reluctant to have faith in Unani treatment. One shop should be allotted for Unani treatment among the shops that are given for rent in premises of Mosques. English medicine is running amok hankering after profit of thousands of crores of rupees. Spurious, low-quality drugs are being sold. There is no check. Doctors serve as middlemen to sell drugs to public. Copious profits are recorded in pharmacy stores. There is no point in griping about the situation. Unani conferences can be organised at district levels and achievements, principles, simple treatment, benefits of herbal products can be explained. This will bring confidence to people. Muslim philanthropists and trustees in mosques should support penetration of Unani. People should be saved from demonic shackles of English Alopathic medicine. Allah will bestow his Rahmath!