Dr Jitendra Singh addresses a Virtual Meet of India’s leading experts in AYUSH from across the country

Dr Zameer Ahmad suggests to integrate Unani Health services with other system of medicine

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has said that COVID pandemic has reiterated the merits of integrated medical management and added that in the times to come, serious thought would require to be given to this aspect for a more effective medical prophylaxis as well as therapeutics.

Addressing a Virtual Meet of some of India’s leading experts in AYUSH, here yesterday, including Dr Nagendra Acharya, Head Vivekananda Centre Bengaluru, Dr.Ramanathan from SitaramAyurvedic Hospital Thrissur Kochin, Dr.Zamir Ahmad Consultant from Unani Medical Sciences Aligarh Muslim University, Dr. Ashok Sharma Hoomeopathic Consultant, Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences New Delhi

Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that even though the merits of integrated or holistic management had been realised even in the case of non-communicable diseases, Diabetes Mellitus but somehow this aspect did not receive the kind of attention that was required. Even though, he said, there is ample evidence and research papers to show that even on treatment with insulin oral antidiabetic drugs a patient with Diabetes can achieve better blood sugar control and reduce the dose of medicine, if simultaneously be advised to practise other methods including Yoga, Naturopathy, etc.

In the context of COVID, Dr Jitendra Singh said that since it is a viral disease where the prognosis depends on the immunity of the patient and, therefore, the importance of building immunity was realised. The widespread use of Homeopathy and other medicines to build up immunity have generated interest in the alternative systems of medicines.

During the Virtual Meet, in his presentation Dr Nagendra Acharya presented a new protocol of Yoga, specifically meant for different classes, namely below 60 years age group, above 60 years age group and in hospitalized patients. The entire protocol could be practiced within 15 minutes.

Dr Zameer Ahmad suggested to integrate Unani Health services as a part of integration and availability of Physicians of all Systems at the same premises with their best services. He said Unani system can provide better services in those field of medicine, where patients require alternate options for their suffering in absence of relief with the modern medicine.

Dr Zameer cited examples of already proved efficacious field of Unani medicine, like Neuro-rehablitation, Hepatology, Nephrology, Dermatology,Immunology, Sexual and Musculoskeletal health.