Ibn-Sina, the ancient Unani physician with the most far-reaching impact on the Islamic and the Western world defined Unani medicine as the science by which we learn the various states of the body is when in health and not in health, the means by which health is likely to be lost, and when lost, is likely to be restored. The logic behind maintaining good health is based on the concepts of 'Hifzan-e-Sehat (hygiene) and 'Asbab-e-Sittah Zaruriah' (six essential causes).

Unani Medicine has always helped the people of India and its neighbouring countries in maintaining good health. It has guided them in their daily routine and food habits, and helped them recover from illness. Unani has hence remained very much a part and parcel of their culture. This system is well defined, well developed and its drugs have been tested and proven for centuries to be generally non-toxic and without any side effects.

A growing need for primary healthcare

The indigenous system of medicine with its glorious past and in the present scenario of health care services may certainly play an important role in today's need for primary health care. It will also help us to reach the goal set by the WHO - "the attainment by all people of the world by the year 2000 AD of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life" as declared at the international conference on primary health care at Alma Ata, USSR, in 1978.

According to the above declaration, primary health care is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology. Health care that is made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community thorough their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage.

India's rural folk are still close to nature compared to their fellow countrymen in towns and cities. 80% of our total population lives in villages, and they still look for simple treatment and remedies from mother earth and its many healing products like herbs and shrubs with medicinal properties. In such a scenario, it will not be out of place to draw inspiration from the father of the nation on this very vital aspect of the health care programme of the nation through I.S.M. The Unani System of Medicine which is essentially a natural and effective system of healing, apart from being affordable to all, is perfectly suited for achieving positive health throughout India.

To ensure that the Health Care Programme in the country is successfully achieved, it is imperative that the Govt.of India takes the following steps immediately :

1. Opening of Unani/Ayurveda/Siddha colleges and starting the registration of medical practitioners as envisaged in the Act:
   
2. Increasing the number of Unani/Ayurveda/Siddha dispensaries.
   
3. Attaching Unani/Ayurveda/Siddha sections to E.S.I.S Dispensaries.
   
4. Setting up a separate Directorate for the Unani/Ayurveda/Siddha system.
   
5. Health education in curriculum of Unani favoured by CCIM should be implemented on a priority basis.
   
6. Unani colleges should start preventive immunization centres under suspicious control of the Hifzan-e-Sehat department.
   
7. All Unani doctors, dispensaries, hospitals, vaccination centres to be supplied various vaccines for achieving the objective of the Alma Ata conference.