Career in Unani Medicine in India: Unani is a traditional health and healing maintenance system observed in South Asia. The origins of Unani medicine are found in the doctrines of ancient Greek physicians. Initial treatment in the Unani system involves establishing a diet to normalise and balance the external factors, like air, water and food, associated with the disease. Other remedies, such as natural medicine treatment, may be recommended if this proves insufficient.
India is ranked the highest in universities and research institutes pursuing Unani Medicine. Unani Medicine is an amalgamation of scientific branches like Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Anthropology etc. This article deals with the course outline of Unani medicine and its current scope.
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Quick Facts
The following is the brief about the Unani Medicine course:
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Name | Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS) Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Unani Master of Science (M.S.) in Unani Post Graduate Diploma in Unani |
| Course Duration | UG: 5.5Years PG: 2-3 Years PhD: 3 Years |
| Eligibility | UG: 10+2 PG: BUMS degree |
| Admission Process | NEET, AIAPGET |
| Average Starting Salary | 2.5 lakhs p.a (approx) |
| Career Options | Lecturer, Consultant, Private Practice, Medical Assistant, Hakeem |
| Recruiting Industries | Unani Charitable institutions, Unani Medical colleges, Unani medicine stores, Unani and ayurvedic Research institutes, Clinic |
What are Unani Medicines?
The other names for Unani are Unani Tibb, Arabian Medicine and Islamic Medicine. Unani Medicine is a traditional healing method mainly centred on four factors in the human body. Like other medicines, the prime aim of the Unani treatment method is to help a person lead a life with zero sicknesses or disease free.
This branch of health science work based on scientific principles and has necessary scientific justifications for each treatment method. The branch is divided into eight disciplines based on how medicines act inside the human body, and they are listed below.
Who are Unani Doctors?
Unani is recognised as the fourth most popular treatment system. Unani is an alternative-medicine system where patients are cared for by improving the human body’s natural healing energy. Unani’s concept is that the body revitalises itself because of its self-healing energy. The human body has four components per the Unani system: blood, yellow bile, phlegm and black bile.
Unani Doctors are professional physicians who have acquired knowledge of Unani medicine. They diagnose patients and give them Unani medication. However, they cannot prescribe any modern-day medicine or perform allopathic surgeries. They will be as good a doctor as an allopathic doctor but with different procedures and treatments. Unani Doctor’s profession requires much hard work but is extremely rewarding. Unani Medicine offers a safe and cost-effective cure with negligible side effects in a society where increasing difficulties have given rise to several illnesses and deprived and needy people cannot afford costly treatment.
Unani Medicine Courses in India
To work as an Unani Doctor or to make a career in Unani Medicines, one can earn a degree by following Unani courses.
Undergraduate Courses
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS) | 5.5 Years |
Postgraduate Course
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Unani | 3 Years |
| Master of Science (M.S.) in Unani | 3 Years |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Unani | 2 Years |
PhD Course
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Unani | 3 Years |
How to get admission to Unani Medicine Course?
- To be eligible for the Unani medicine course, aspiring candidates should have passed from 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the science stream (PCB).
- Candidates should have a NEET scorecard.
- After qualifying NEET examination, candidates must participate in Ayush NEET Counselling conducted by AACCC Central Counselling (AACCC) or State Counselling (AYUSH Dept. of respective State).
- For postgraduation, AIAPGET is required for admission.
Eligibility Criteria
A candidate must be qualified for the eligibility criteria. To participate in the bachelor’s level BUMS programme for naturopathic medicine, various qualifying requirements must be satisfied.
Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduate courses
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Age limit | Minimum 17 years of age on December 31 of the application year. |
Qualifying Exam | Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English as the core subjects. Candidates must have passed Class 10th with Urdu or Arabic or Persian language as a subject or must have passed the test of Urdu of Class 10th. |
Qualifying Exam Marks | All General category candidates must have at least 50% marks in 10+2 or equivalent examination. Reserved category candidates must have at least 40% marks. |
| Qualifying Entrance Exam | Candidates must have Qualified NEET exam |
Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduate courses
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Exam Marks | The candidate must have BUMS Degree from a well-reputed college and university. The candidate should have a minimum aggregate of percentile. But the cut-off marks can vary depending on the college. |
| Qualifying Entrance Exam | Candidates must have Qualified AIAPGET exam |
Top Unani Medicine College in India
Many colleges in India offer BUMS Courses and other Courses Related to Unani Medicines. A few of them are:
| S.no. | Top Unani Medicine Colleges |
|---|---|
| 1. | Jamia Hamdard |
| 2. | Chhatrapati Shahu ji Maharaj University |
| 3. | Kerala University of Health Sciences |
| 4. | Dr NTR University of Health Sciences |
| 5. | Jamia Millia Islamia |
State-wise Unani Medical Colleges in India
Career Options for Unani Medicine
Unani Medicine is more popular among Indians than among people in Persia or Greece, where it found its origin. Hence, those interested in pursuing Unani can build a good future in this profession. Those interested in teaching can grab a lecture position at universities and colleges pursuing Unani Medicine. A well-qualified Unani doctor can start their own treatment centres or assist senior Unani doctors.
Unani doctors can also research and develop innovative treatment methods with valid scientific evidence. The career opportunities for Unani doctors are much higher in India than in any other country, so doctors can conduct orientation classes to educate the public about the importance of Unani Medicine.
Below are some more job profiles which a candidate can choose after pursuing Unani medicine as a career:
| Lecturer | Consultant |
| Private Practice | Medical Assistant |
| Hakeem | Scientist |
| Therapist | Spa Director |
| Pharmacist | Public Health Specialist |
Job Profile for Unani Medicines
A person or Medical Expert who is trained in Unani Medicine can work under the disciplines listed below:
| Internal medicine | Gynaecology, including Obstetrics and Pediatrics |
| Diseases of the head and neck | Toxicology |
| Psychiatry | Rejuvenation Therapy, including Geriatrics |
| Sexology | Regimental Therapy |
| Dietotherapy | Hydrotherapy |
Role of a Unani Doctor
The following are the roles of an Unani Doctor:
- Monitor and provide general care to patients in hospital wards and clinics.
- Admit patients requiring special care, followed by investigations and treatment.
- Examine and talk to patients to diagnose their medical conditions.
- Carry out specific procedures, like performing operations and specialist investigations.
- Make notes and prepare paperwork as a legal record of treatment for the benefit of other healthcare professionals.
- Work with other doctors as part of a team in the same department or other specialities.
- Promote health education.
- Undertake managerial responsibilities such as planning the workload and staffing of the department, especially at more senior levels.
- Teach and supervise junior doctors and medical students.
- Carry out auditing and research.
Skills Required
The following are the skills required for an Unani Doctor:
- Communication skills
- Detail oriented
- Leadership skills
- Organizational & Management skills
- Patience
- Decision-Making skills
- Trustworthy and Confidential
- Emotional Stability
Average Salary
The employer determines the remuneration package based on the candidate’s qualifications and performance. Most employers base their compensation packages on the job profile the candidate accepts. Numerous career options exist in Unani medicine, and the pay scale for these positions is significantly better than for other specialities. The following are sample salaries based on job profiles:
| Job profile | Salary |
|---|---|
| Hakeem | Rs 3.5 Lakhs per annum (Approx.) |
| Unani Institute Lecturer | Rs 4.5 Lakhs per annum (Approx.) |
| Unani consultant | Rs 3 Lakhs per annum (Approx.) |
| Unani therapist | Rs 2.5 Lakhs per annum (Approx.) |
| Unani Medicine pharmacist | Rs 4 Lakhs per annum (Approx.) |
Graphical Representation of Average Salary
Top Recruiting Industries
The following are the top recruiting industries:
| Unani Charitable institutions | Unani Medical colleges |
| Unani medicine store | Unani and ayurvedic Research institutes |
| Unani Clinic | Unani medicine system education Training institutes |
| Clinical Trials Laboratories (Pharmaceuticals) | Unani Pharmaceutical industry |
| Consultancies | Life science industries |
| Medical Tourism | Drug control Sector |
| Research establishments | Dispensaries |
| Healthcare Community | Government Hospitals |
| Nursing House | Third-Party Administrator (TPA) in the insurance sector |
please do mention some of inturn options for BUMS students and how to apply for them