The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, laid the foundation stone for the construction of Research Institute of Homoeopathy and Unani under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) respectively at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra today. These organizations are apex bodies for research under the Ministry of AYUSH. This Institute will be a premier institute in the state of Maharashtra engaged in research activities in Homoeopathy & Unani medicine.Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik said that high quality research in Homoeopathy & Unani medicine is essential for the growth, further development and their scientific usage in health care systems.
The Ministry of AYUSH is committed for the strengthening of all existing research institutes, he emphasized. This upcoming institute is a significant step of the Government for inculcating research aptitude in students of various colleges already functional in Maharashtra, the Minister explained. The Minister assured full cooperation of the Central government in the development of AYUSH systems in Maharashtra. He emphasized that Government of Maharashtra should utilize provisions of centrally sponsored schemes and establish Homoeopathic and Unani colleges in the Government sector. There is need to give employment to Homoeopathic and Unani doctors at primary health care, the Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Arun Bhasme, Vice president, Central Council of Homoeopathy, said that there is a need to develop AYUSH infrastructure in the state. This can be done under the patronage of the Ministry of AYUSH with the active involvement of the state government. Dr Kuldeep Raj Kohli, Director AYUSH stated that development of AYUSH institutes, colleges and hospitals is the prime concern of the state. He stressed that this Institute should also provide post graduate education in Homoeopathy and Unani.Also present on this occasion was Shri Prashant Thakur, Member of Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra. He affirmed that the development of the research institute will lead to the identification of strength areas of the AYUSH systems, which can be translated to effective and efficient public health delivery system. He emphasized that in the Kharghar district, there are tribal areas that are underserved. This institution should provide special care to tribal areas.
These regional institutes of Homoeopathy & Unani Medicine will be completed within 18 months. When these institutes will be fully operational, there shall be provision of world class Homoeopathy & Unani treatment, apart from undertaking research in incurable diseases like HIV/AIDS, Cancer, chronic skin diseases like psoriasis, vitiligo etc. These institutes shall have state of the art laboratories and investigation facilities where patients can be given treatment with modern outlook. Interdisciplinary research is very important in the field of medicine, since Mumbai is already having various institutes of repute like IIT Mumbai, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Institute of Chemical Technology, National Institute of Virology, Pune. Path breaking research is possible in the much neglected field of Homoeopathy and Unani systems with active collaboration of these Institutes.
On the occasion, the Director General of CCRH, Dr. Raj K. Manchanda and Director General of CCRUM Prof.Rais-ur-Rahman welcomed all the dignitaries and motivated college students and faculty to undertake innovative research projects.The function was also attended by Dr.G.P.Tither; Deputy Director (Homoeopathy) and a number of senior homoeopathic and Unani physicians from all over the state as well as students of Homoeopathy and Unani colleges.