by Dr Altaf Hussain Shah
World Unani Day 2026 highlights innovation, scientific validation, and outreach, reinforcing Unani medicine’s global relevance, evidence-based practice, and role in holistic, affordable healthcare
World Unani Day 2026 is being celebrated across India and globally with renewed vigour, strong academic engagement, and widespread public participation under the theme Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice. Observed annually on February 11, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the eminent Unani physician, educationist, and social reformer Hakim Ajmal Khan, the day has evolved from a commemorative occasion into a global movement highlighting the scientific relevance and contemporary applicability of the Unani system of medicine.
From February 11, onwards, a series of academic, clinical, and community-based programmes are being organised worldwide, reflecting growing confidence in Unani medicine as a holistic, evidence-informed, and patient-centred healthcare system. The 2026 observance marks a mature phase in the journey of Unani medicine, wherein its classical foundations harmoniously integrate with modern research, innovation, and international collaboration.
At the national level, the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, is organising the main World Unani Day 2026 event in Mumbai, bringing together policymakers, academicians, researchers, clinicians, and representatives from global health organisations. The national event underscores India’s leadership in Unani education, research, clinical services, and pharmaceutical production, and reaffirms the country’s role as the primary global custodian of this Greco-Arab medical heritage.
In Kashmir
In Jammu and Kashmir, World Unani Day 2026 is being observed with special enthusiasm and extensive outreach. The main UT-level event is being held at the auditorium of Government Dental College, Srinagar, serving as a focal platform for academic deliberations, professional interaction, and policy dialogue. Additionally, the Department of AYUSH, Jammu and Kashmir, is organising free Unani medical camps and public awareness programmes in every district, ensuring access to Unani healthcare services at the grassroots level and strengthening preventive health awareness among communities.
Across the country, Unani medical colleges, research councils, hospitals, AYUSH health facilities, and professional bodies are conducting seminars, symposiums, workshops, health camps, and outreach activities. These engagements highlight the significant contribution of Unani medicine to preventive and curative healthcare, particularly in the management of chronic lifestyle disorders such as diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome, respiratory ailments, dermatological conditions, and psychosomatic illnesses.
The Focus
A central focus of the 2026 celebrations has been the emphasis on evidence-based practice and scientific validation. Deliberations revisited the classical Unani concept of equilibrium among the four humours – Dam, Balgham, Safra, and Sauda – as the foundation of health and disease, while aligning these principles with contemporary biomedical understanding. Core Unani approaches such as Mizaj (temperament-based diagnosis) and personalised treatment planning were highlighted as major strengths of the system in modern patient-centred care.
The classical treatment modalities of Ilaj bil Ghiza (dietotherapy), Ilaj bil Dawa (pharmacotherapy), and Ilaj bil Tadbeer (regimental therapies) were presented as time-tested, cost-effective, and non-invasive approaches addressing present-day healthcare needs. Regimental therapies, including Hijamah (cupping therapy), Dalak (therapeutic massage), Hammam (steam bath), and Takmeed (fomentation), were showcased as valuable adjuncts in integrative clinical practice. When applied judiciously, these therapies aid circulation, detoxification, pain management, and overall well-being, reinforcing Unani medicine’s emphasis on restoring balance rather than merely suppressing symptoms.
Scientific validation formed a defining theme of World Unani Day 2026. Unani medicine is increasingly engaging with contemporary research methodologies, including clinical trials, pharmaco-analytical studies, and outcome-based research. The application of modern tools such as artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and data science is opening new avenues for understanding drug action, disease patterns, and personalised therapeutics, effectively bridging the gap between tradition and technology.
Collaborations
India’s expanding international collaboration in Unani medicine was also highlighted during the celebrations. The system is gaining recognition across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa through academic exchanges, training programmes, and collaborative research initiatives. Engagement with global health organisations has further strengthened the credibility of Unani medicine within integrative healthcare frameworks, positioning India as a global knowledge leader in traditional medicine.
World Unani Day 2026 also conveyed a broader public health message. In an era characterised by rising healthcare costs, antimicrobial resistance, and lifestyle-induced diseases, Unani medicine offers sustainable, holistic, and preventive healthcare solutions. Its emphasis on moderation, lifestyle regulation, diet, and natural therapeutics aligns strongly with global calls for inclusive, affordable, and sustainable healthcare systems.
The widespread observance in 2026 has strengthened public confidence in Unani medicine as a credible component of national health delivery. By combining classical wisdom with scientific rigour, ethical governance, and community outreach, Unani medicine continues to evolve as a resilient healthcare system. The celebrations reaffirmed a collective resolve to translate Unani knowledge into measurable health outcomes, ensuring accessibility, accountability, and global relevance for future generations through research, education, service, innovation, inclusion, sustainability, equity, and compassion.
(The author is Senior Medical Officer, AYUSH Unit, District Hospital Pulwama. Ideas are personal.)
