National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM)

National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bengaluru)

Parent Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Established: 1984
Affiliation: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Karnataka
Location: Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru – 560091
Official Website: https://nium.in

What Is NIUM Bengaluru?

The National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) is the apex national institution for advanced education, clinical care, and research in the Unani system of medicine — a time-tested holistic healing science that originated from ancient Greek and Arab traditions and evolved in India over centuries.

It is a joint venture between the Government of India (Ministry of AYUSH) and the Government of Karnataka, serving as a Centre of Excellence in Unani medicine.

In simple words —
NIUM Bengaluru is India’s national hub for Unani education and research — combining ancient wisdom with modern science to promote balance, health, and wellbeing.

Vision & Mission

Goal	Description
Global Recognition	To position Unani Medicine as a globally accepted system of healthcare.
Education Excellence	To produce competent Unani physicians, researchers, and academicians.
Research Integration	To validate Unani principles using modern scientific tools.
Public Healthcare	To provide affordable and effective Unani treatment to all.
Knowledge Preservation	To conserve and promote classical Unani literature and pharmacology.

Institutional Overview

Division	Core Function
Academic Wing	Offers postgraduate (MD Unani) and Ph.D. programs.
Clinical Wing	Provides outpatient, inpatient, and specialized Unani healthcare.
Research Division	Conducts fundamental, clinical, and drug research.
Pharmacy & Drug Testing Lab	Prepares and standardizes Unani formulations.
Library & Manuscript Section	Houses ancient Unani texts and research resources.

Academic Programs

Program	Duration	Description
MD (Unani Medicine)	3 years	Postgraduate program in 7 Unani specialties.
Ph.D. (Unani)	3–5 years	Doctoral program focused on Unani pharmacology and clinical studies.
BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery) (Proposed)	5.5 years	Undergraduate degree in Unani system (future expansion).
Diploma & Short Courses	6 months–1 year	Skill programs in Unani pharmacy, Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer (regimental therapy), and diagnostics.
CME & Training	Variable	Continuing medical education for practitioners.

MD Specializations Offered:
1️⃣ Moalijat (Medicine)
2️⃣ Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology)
3️⃣ Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib (Preventive & Social Medicine)
4️⃣ Ilmul Qabalat wa Amraze Niswan (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
5️⃣ Ilmul Jarahat (Surgery)
6️⃣ Amraze Ain, Uzn, Anaf, wa Halaq (Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat)
7️⃣ Kulliyat (Basic Principles of Unani Medicine)

Research & Development

NIUM promotes scientific validation and modernization of Unani medicine through a combination of traditional principles and contemporary biomedical research.

Research Area	Description
Clinical Research	Evaluation of Unani therapies for chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, and skin disorders.
Drug Standardization	Development of Unani pharmacopoeial standards and quality control.
Pharmacological Studies	Toxicity and efficacy studies on herbal and mineral formulations.
Fundamental Research	Validation of Unani concepts like Mizaj (temperament) and Akhlaat (humors).
Collaborative Projects	With CCRUM, CSIR, ICMR, and medical universities.

Recent Research Projects:

Clinical trials on Majoon Suranjan for arthritis.
Study on Roghan Baiza Murgh for alopecia areata.
Standardization of Sharbat-e-Unnab and Habbe Asgand.
Research on Unani detoxification (Tadbeer) for metabolic disorders.

Hospital & Clinical Facilities

Facility	Description
Hospital Capacity	180 beds, including male, female, and special wards.
OPD Services	18+ specialized clinics (Dermatology, Diabetes, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, etc.).
Diagnostic Facilities	Laboratory, X-ray, ECG, ultrasound, and endoscopy.
Pharmacy Unit	GMP-certified Unani drug manufacturing unit.
Therapy Section (Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer)	Includes Hijama (cupping), Dalak (massage), Hammam (steam bath), Riyazat (exercise), and Nutool (pouring therapy).
Dietary Department (Ilaj bil Ghiza)	Personalized diet therapy based on temperament (Mizaj).

Daily Footfall: Around 1,200 OPD patients and 100+ inpatients.

Public Health & Outreach

Program	Objective
Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP)	Community-based preventive health initiative.
School Health Program	Introducing Unani hygiene and diet principles in schools.
National Health Integration Program	Collaboration with NRHM and NAM for Unani inclusion.
Health Camps & Mobile Clinics	Free camps in rural and underserved areas.
Unani Awareness Week	Annual nationwide campaign celebrating Unani heritage.

Collaboration & Linkages

Partner Organization	Area of Collaboration
Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)	Joint research, training, and publications.
ICMR & CSIR	Drug validation and pharmacognosy.
AIIMS & NIPER	Clinical trials and safety evaluation.
AYUSH GRID	Institutional digital integration.
WHO-GCTM (Jamnagar)	Global recognition and standardization of Unani practice.

Key Achievements

Recognized as a Centre of Excellence in Unani Education & Research.
Conducted 200+ clinical research projects on chronic diseases.
Developed 50+ standardized Unani formulations under CCRUM collaboration.
Digitized Unani manuscripts and pharmacopoeial texts.
Established Herbal Garden with 250+ medicinal species.
Published 500+ papers in national and international journals.
Integrated AYUSH-HIMS for hospital management and patient data.

Who’s Who (Leadership & Governance)

Designation	Officer Name	Role
Director, NIUM	Prof. (Hakim) Abdul Wadud (as of 2025)	Institutional head overseeing academics, research, and hospital administration.
Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH	Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha	Policy oversight and coordination.
Medical Superintendent	—	Hospital and clinical service management.
Dean (Academics)	—	Academic programs and curriculum supervision.
Registrar / Administrative Officer	—	Institutional administration and HR.

Publications & Resources

NIUM Annual Reports
Journal of Unani Medicine & Research
Unani Pharmacopoeia Manuals
Case Studies & Research Monographs
Herbal Garden Catalogue
Public Awareness Pamphlets in Urdu, Hindi, and English

Digital Integration

Platform	Role
AYUSH Research Portal	Repository for Unani research outputs.
AYUSH GRID	Digital performance monitoring and connectivity.
AYUSH e-Learning	Online courses for Unani practitioners.
AYUSH-HIMS	Electronic health records and teleconsultation.
NAM Portal	Funding and implementation tracking.

Contact & Grievance Redressal

National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM)
📍 Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru – 560091, Karnataka, India
📧 Email: director@nium.in / info@nium.in
📞 Phone: 080-23584260 / 080-23584180
🌐 Website: https://nium.in

Grievances:
🖥️ https://pgportal.gov.in → Ministry of AYUSH → National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM)

🔗 14. Useful Links

Ministry of AYUSH: https://ayush.gov.in
Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM): https://ccrum.res.in
AYUSH Research Portal: https://ayushportal.nic.in
AYUSH GRID: https://ayushgrid.gov.in
National AYUSH Mission: https://namayush.gov.in

Benefits to Citizens

Beneficiary	Benefit
Students	Access to postgraduate education and Unani specialization.
Patients	Affordable Unani consultation and herbal treatments.
Researchers	Advanced facilities for pharmacological and clinical studies.
Teachers	Training and academic exchange opportunities.
Public	Awareness, free camps, and preventive care guidance.

Impact

Strengthens India’s leadership in Unani education and evidence-based research.
Provides quality and affordable healthcare through Unani principles.
Integrates traditional medicine with digital and modern healthcare systems.
Contributes to India’s global diplomacy in traditional systems of medicine.