Srinagar/New Delhi: The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India organized a National Seminar on ‘Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Public Health Research: Way forward in Unani Medicine’ today at EMMRC Auditorium, University of Kashmir, Srinagar.
Addressing the seminar Prof. Asim Ali Khan, Director General, CCRUM said that the recent pandemic of Covid-19 has pressed the need to focus our efforts on public health research. Unani Medicine which provides preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care has much to offer for public health. He further said that the CCRUM has been making continuous efforts for setting up standards for research, training and practice of Unani Medicine and has obtained NABH accreditation for several of its institutes. He apprised that the WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush has recently published WHO Benchmark for training and practice in Unani Medicine.
Speaking as the chief guest, Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Srinagar emphasized the potential of Indian traditional systems of medicine, including Unani Medicine, and its possible applications in Intellectual Property Rights. She encouraged the CCRUM to evolve an IP strategy for inventors and make efforts for obtaining patents at national and international levels.
Dr. Khursheed Bakshi, Institute of Asian Medical Sciences, Zakura, J&K, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, Registar, University of Kashmir and Prof. Afzal Zargar, Registrar, Central University of Kashmir, J&K also addressed the inaugural session.
The seminar had two technical sessions during which lectures were delivered by Subrat Sahu, Examiner of Patents and Designs, Indian Patent Office (IPO), New Delhi, Dr. Mohammad Ahsan Chisti, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Prof. Geer M. Ishaq, University of Kashmir, Prof. Manish Goel, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, Rajesh Kumar Meena, Examiner of Patents and Designs, IPO, New Delhi and Dr. Usama Akram, Research Officer (Unani), CCRUM.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Seema Akbar, Assistant Director Incharge, Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar. Dr. Nighat Anjum, Research Officer (Unani) Scientist-III conducted the proceedings of the inaugural event.
Dr. Pawan Kumar, Research Officer (Pathology) Scientist-IV and Head of IPR Division, Dr. Rampratap Meena, Research Officer (Chemistry) Scientist-IV and IPR team at CCRUM Headquarters, New Delhi coordinated the seminar.

KR Desk