Jadhav Inaugurates Unani Research Centre at JJ Hospital
Union Minister says innovation and evidence will shape the future of Unani medicine
- Renovated RRIUM co-location centre inaugurated in Mumbai
- National conference on innovation in Unani practice held
- Government pushes integrative, evidence-based healthcare
- Maharashtra reiterates support for Unani expansion
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 14th Feb: Union Minister for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav inaugurated the renovated co-location centre of the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) at JJ Hospital in Mumbai and presided over the Unani Day 2026 celebrations along with a national conference on innovation in Unani practice.
The two-day event, organised by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine under the Ministry of Ayush, focused on the theme “Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice.”
The RRIUM co-location centre, originally established in 1984, has been upgraded at a cost of nearly ₹3.84 crore to strengthen clinical services, research infrastructure and patient care in an integrative healthcare setting. The upgraded facility is aimed at promoting evidence-based research and closer coordination between Unani and modern systems of medicine.
Addressing the gathering, Jadhav said the upgradation reflects the government’s commitment to making traditional systems an essential pillar of a modern, patient-centric healthcare framework. He said bringing Unani and conventional medicine under one roof would offer safe, effective and holistic care backed by scientific evidence.
“Unani medicine is a time-tested system, but its future lies in generating strong scientific evidence,” he said, adding that innovation and research would define the next phase of its growth.
The minister urged institutions to focus on clinical research, drug standardisation and translational studies, and to adopt modern tools such as genomics, artificial intelligence and advanced diagnostics to deepen scientific understanding of Unani therapies.
Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil said Unani medicine provides affordable and effective treatment, particularly for poorer sections, and assured continued state support for its expansion in both urban and rural areas.
Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said Unani medicine has witnessed rapid growth in research output, patient care and institutional development over the past decade. He noted that the ministry is working with the World Health Organization and other partners to establish global benchmarks for Unani education, research and clinical practice.
Chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, Dr. Maneesha V. Kothekar, described Unani as part of India’s “unity in diversity” in healthcare and said different traditional systems share a common goal of promoting societal well-being.
The event also saw the launch of CCRUM publications, a collaborative web portal and mobile applications, the signing of international and national MoUs, and the presentation of a questionnaire for assessing human temperament in Unani medicine. The biochemistry and pathology laboratory at RRIUM Mumbai also received NABL certification.
