Pulwama, Oct 17: An international three-day AYUSH conference kicked off on Thursday at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, drawing around 350 specialists from various streams of medicine.
This event, aimed at exploring ways to integrate traditional systems of medicine, particularly Unani, with modern healthcare practices, has garnered wide participation from both AYUSH and allopathic experts.
The conference, which includes a series of presentations and discussions, will see more than 100 research papers presented, focusing primarily on the Unani system of medicine and its potential convergence with allopathy.
Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor of IUST, highlighted the importance of blending traditional medical practices with modern healthcare to address chronic diseases plaguing Jammu and Kashmir.
“The primary objective of this conference is to explore how the Unani system of medicine can be integrated with modern medicine to provide more effective treatment options for chronic health conditions such as cancer,” Prof. Romshoo said.
He emphasised the need for collaboration among medical professionals from various disciplines to create a consortium that leverages technological advancements to make AYUSH sciences more accessible.
Dr. Zaheer Ahmed, Director of the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), who served as the chief guest, discussed the growing influence of AYUSH both in India and internationally. He noted that AYUSH is gaining traction globally as a holistic health system, providing a complementary approach to modern medicine.
Prof. Ashraf Ganie, Director of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar, praised IUST for establishing centres of excellence, such as the Centre for AYUSH Sciences. He stressed that integrating the strengths of allopathic and Unani medicine is crucial in combating rising diseases like diabetes in Kashmir.
