• World Unani Day is observed on February 11 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of social reformer and renowned Unani scholar Hakim Ajmal Khan, widely regarded as the pioneer of Unani medicine in India.

• The day commemorates his contribution to the growth of Unani medicine in India and throughout the world.

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated an international conference organised by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) on the occasion of Unani Day.

• President Murmu said that Unani medicine, a system rooted in ancient wisdom, enriched over centuries, exemplifies the synergy between tradition and innovation. 

• The Ministry of AYUSH has taken significant steps to support and promote Unani medicine. India has the widest network of educational, research, healthcare and pharmaceutical institutions of Unani medicine. 

Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)

• The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), with its network of 24 peripheral institutes, conducts high-quality research and plays a key role in the promotion and development of Unani medicine.

• CCRUM is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).

• It was established on March 30, 1978 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It started functioning from January 10, 1979.

• The CCRUM is an apex body for undertaking, coordinating, formulating, developing and promoting research on scientific lines in the Unani system of medicine. 

• The main activities of the Council comprise clinical research, drug standardisation research & quality control, pharmacology research, literary research, fundamental research, survey & cultivation of medicinal plants and research oriented public healthcare programmes. 

• Besides this, healthcare services through Out Patient Department (OPD) and In-Patient Departments (IPDs) and special clinics for geriatric healthcare are being carried out.

• The activities are carried out through its institutes/centres/units located all over India and also through collaborative mode with various universities, hospitals and institutes.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)