October 22, 2026
By The Flag Post staff
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NEW DELHI: A National Seminar on “The Role of Traditional Systems of Medicine in Healthcare Needs” was successfully convened on October 16, 2026, at the CoE Auditorium, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
The event was organized by the Green Institute for Research and Development (GIRD) in association with the Centre of Excellence in Unani Medicine (Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology), School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard. It was sponsored by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
The seminar brought together a diverse assembly of policy makers, analysts, leading research institutes, university faculties, research scholars, and representatives of AYUSH manufacturers, companies, and suppliers. The inaugural function was attended by Prof. (Dr.) M. Z. Abdin, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard; Dr. Mahesh K. Dadhich, CEO, NMPB as Chief Guest; Dr N Zaheer Ahmad, Director General, CCRUM and Dr C K Katiyar, Advisor, AIIA, Delhi & NIPER, Guwahati as Guests of Honour; and Dr. K. P. Hareendran Achari, and Mr.Shamsuddeen A.K., Secretary of GIRD, and Prof. (Dr.) Sayeed Ahmad, Director, Centre of Excellence in Unani Medicine).
Experts and researchers emphasized the critical need for robust clinical trials and evidence-based validation to elevate the credibility and global scientific acceptance of AYUSH drugs and treatments.
Discussions highlighted breakthrough preclinical and clinical evaluations, establishing the efficacy of traditional formulations in managing chronic and metabolic disorders. The participants also discussed the sustainable availability, authentication, and quality of raw medicinal plant materials, transparent supply chains— from farm to finished product —tackling adulteration through modern analytical techniques like DNA barcoding and chromatographic fingerprinting.
Speakers stressed that protecting the quality of raw materials necessitates safeguarding the welfare of cultivators, the ex-situ cultivation of medicinal plants must guarantee stable and remunerative incomes for farmers, requiring robust policy frameworks and effective grassroots implementation.
Deliberations addressed regulatory mechanisms under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and quality control standards set by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H). Panelists debated standardizing classical AYUSH formulations, safeguarding pediatric safety, and navigating international trade and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) compliance.
The seminar concluded with a high-level panel discussion titled “Traceability or Trust? Building a Transparent Medicinal-Plant Supply Chain from Farm to Finished Product,” followed by a valedictory session.
The seminar deliberations underscored that integrating traditional systems of medicine through scientific rigor, stringent quality control, and sustainable agricultural policies is vital to addressing modern healthcare challenges and strengthening public healthcare delivery.
