KARACHI, Nov 18 (APP): Federal Minister for Health Services, Syed Mustafa Kamal, stated on Tuesday that the government aims to promote eastern medicine alongside allopathic treatment. He announced that a separate secretariat would be established in Islamabad for this purpose. The minister made these remarks during a visit to Hamdard University.
Mustafa Kamal held a meeting with Hamdard University’s Chancellor Sadia Rashid (Hilal-e-Imtiaz).
He said that importance of eastern medicine should not be denied; therefore, the discipline should no longer be ignored. Awareness should be raised among common people about the modern research taking place in the field.
The meeting was also attended by Hamdard University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Imran Amin, Registrar Kaleem Ahmed Ghias, former vice chancellor and PAEM president Hakim Abdul Hanan, Dean Faculty of Eastern Medicine Prof Dr Arshad Mahmood, President of the National Council of Medicine under the Ministry of Health Hakim Muhammad Ahmed Salimi, Ministry of Health official Saleem Cheema, members of the National Council for Medicine Hakim Naseem Qasmi and Hakim Mukhtar Barkati and senior officials of the Hamdard Group.
Sadia Rashid drew the federal minister’s attention to the lack of official support for eastern medicine. She said that modern research in the area has proven very useful for tackling diseases like thalassemia, stomach ulcers, and PCOS.
She added that Shaheed Hakim Muhammed Said did not just play a vital role in introducing eastern and Unani medicine at the global level but also built a unique knowledge city in Pakistan where opportunities for education range from basic to advanced international standards. Today, Hamdard University graduates are making the country proud in Pakistan and abroad.
Ms Rashid said that Hakim Said gave new vigour and vitality to the idea of developing eastern medicine on modern lines.
The minister appreciated the research work being undertaken at Hamdard University’s Faculty of Eastern Medicine and said the public should be made aware of modern research in medicine, for which media can play an important role.
Kamal offered his services to promote traditional forms of treatment and said all possible support will be provided. He appointed Senior Ministry of Health official Saleem Cheema as its coordinator, who will serve as the liaison between Hamdard University and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Mustafa Kamal also visited the Faculty of Eastern Medicine, where Acting Dean Prof Dr Arshad Mahmood briefed him on the modern research work.