Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and the Unani Drug Manufacturers’ Association (UDMA), which comprises of 70 Unani drug manufacturing companies from all over the country, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 14th October in New Delhi.
The MoU was signed between the Vice-chancellor of the IUST, Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo and the UDMA president, Dr. Hamid Bashir during the inaugural function of the 5th UDMA conference, which is being held at the Jamia Millia Islamia from 14-16 October 2022.
Prof. Romshoo was the Guest of Honour at the inauguration function which was attended by many other dignitaries like the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islami (JMI), Prof. Najma Akhtar, Advisor of the Ayush Ministry, Dr. D. C. Katoch, Dr. Hamid Ahmed, President (UDMA), Dr. Mohsin Delhvi, Secretary (UDMA), all the executive and other founding members of the UDMA, and a large number of academicians, Ayush drug manufacturers, and practitioners from all across the country.
After the MoU signing ceremony, VC, IUST addressed the conference attendees and gave a thorough overview of the IUST’s initiatives to promote research that would help standardize and integrate the indigenous system of medicine and allopathy, making India a healthier nation as envisaged under the Swasth Bharat program.
Prof. Romshoo said, “Despite being the oldest systems of medicine, Ayush continues to remain under-explored and under-researched health sciences in the world. All the Unani drug manufacturers, academicians, practitioners, and policymakers have to play an important role in bringing the desired scholarship and actions together in making India healthier.” He also emphasised the use of innovations and cutting-edge techniques such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, informatics, interdisciplinary research and other latest technologies for promoting Ayush in the country.
According to Professor Romshoo, Jammu and Kashmir is home to a wide variety of medicinal and aromatic plants and herbs that are essential ingredients of the Ayush medicines and therefore the region has great potential to be promoted as Ayush tourism destination by creating the necessary research centres, hospitals, wellness centres and other required facilities and services.
It is pertinent to mention that IUST has recently established a Centre for Ayush sciences, an Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Park, a Unani clinic and is in the process of applying to the Ayush Ministry for Centre of Excellence in Unani medicines.
Dr. Hamid Bashir, President of the UDMA spoke briefly about the provisions of the MoU and reiterated that all the 70 industrial and manufacturing industries shall welcome IUST students for internships and support. He claimed that cooperation with IUST would help to evaluate the efficacy of various Unani formulations for treating chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, cancers, respiratory diseases and other chronic disorders.
Dr. Mohsin Delhvi, Secretary of the UDMA said that under the MoU, the IUST faculty and UDMA Member Companies will deliver joint courses in Unani for the benefit of the IUST students, and the Labs at IUST will be used for joint research and development in Ayush.

KR Desk