Prataprao Jadhav inaugurates renovated Unani Research Centre at JJ Hospital; presides over Unani Day celebrations in Mumbai

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, on Saturday inaugurated the renovated Co-location Centre of the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) at the J.J. Hospital campus in Mumbai. He also presided over the Unani Day 2026 celebrations and a national conference on “Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice.”

The two-day programme has been organised by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) under the Ayush Ministry.

The renovated RRIUM Co-location Centre, originally established in 1984, has been upgraded at a cost of nearly ₹3.84 crore to enhance clinical services, research facilities and patient care in an integrative setting. The upgradation aims to strengthen Unani medicine services within the historic J.J. Hospital campus and promote evidence-based research in collaboration with modern systems of medicine.

Addressing the gathering, Jadhav said the initiative reflects the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to position traditional systems of medicine as a key pillar of a modern, patient-centric healthcare framework.

By bringing Unani and conventional medicine under one roof, he said, the co-location centre would provide safe, effective and holistic care supported by scientific research. The move, he added, aligns with the government’s broader vision of integrating AYUSH systems into mainstream healthcare.

Emphasising the theme of the conference, Jadhav said innovation and evidence would shape the future of Unani medicine. “Unani medicine is a time-tested system rooted in rich clinical experience, but its future lies in how effectively we generate and present scientific evidence to the world,” he said.

He urged institutions such as CCRUM and RRIUM to lead high-quality clinical research, drug standardisation and translational studies to address emerging health challenges. He also called on researchers to leverage modern tools such as genomics, artificial intelligence and advanced diagnostics to deepen scientific understanding of Unani therapies.

Highlighting Maharashtra’s role, the Minister said strengthening centres like RRIUM Mumbai and forging partnerships with leading hospitals and universities would create a strong ecosystem for Unani medicine in public health, preventive care and chronic disease management.

Maharashtra’s Co-operation Minister Babasaheb Patil described the inauguration as a significant step towards providing affordable and people-centric healthcare. He underlined the importance of traditional systems, particularly in managing chronic and difficult-to-treat conditions, and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to expanding infrastructure and access to Indian systems of medicine in both urban and rural areas.

“Health is true wealth,” he said, adding that Unani medicine offers affordable and effective care, especially for ordinary citizens, and would continue to receive support from the state government.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ayush Ministry, said the 10th Unani Day celebrations reflect the remarkable growth of Unani medicine over the past decade in research, patient care and institutional development. He noted that Unani institutions under CCRUM have recorded multi-fold increases in patient footfalls, research publications and accredited facilities.

He added that the Ministry is working closely with the World Health Organization to establish global benchmarks for Unani education, research and clinical practice. Among key milestones, he cited the publication of WHO benchmark documents for Unani training and practice, inclusion of Unani morbidity codes in the ICD-11 Traditional Medicine Chapter, and ongoing work on the classification of health interventions.

Dr. Maneesha V. Kothekar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), said Unani, along with Ayurveda, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa, represents India’s “unity in diversity” in healthcare traditions. She commended the strengthening of infrastructure, education and research in the Unani system while retaining its traditional foundations.

During the inaugural session, several initiatives were unveiled, including the release of CCRUM publications and a conference souvenir, the launch of a collaborative web portal and mobile applications, and the exchange of one international and eight national memoranda of understanding. A questionnaire for the assessment of Mizaj-e-Insan (human temperament) was also introduced.

The Biochemistry and Pathology Laboratory of RRIUM, Mumbai received NABL certification, further enhancing quality assurance in Unani research and diagnostics.

The event was attended by senior officials of the Ayush Ministry, CCRUM and other Unani institutions, along with researchers, practitioners and academicians from across the country.