Govt urged to boost ‘tibb’ herbal healing

Chairman of the National Council for Tibb (NCT), Muhammad Ahmad Saleemi, has called upon the government to provide support for Tibb, a herbal form of treatment that has shown proven results in treating various chronic diseases.

Saleemi highlighted the historical background of Tibb colleges, explaining that the government extended its coverage to alternative medicines through the Unani, Ayurvedic, and Homoeopathic Practitioners Act of 1965, leading to the formation of the NCT.

He said that the primary responsibility of the NCT is to regulate Tibb institutions across the country. “Currently, 39 institutions are offering four- and five-year Tibb programs, with 25 located in Punjab, four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh, and one in Balochistan,” he added.

Saleemi emphasised that a four-year premedical program in Tibb is equivalent to an associate degree, while a five-year post-premedical program is equivalent to a master’s degree. In addition to these institutions, he said approximately 10 universities provide Tibb degrees, offering students the opportunity to pursue doctoral-level studies in the field.

He said that these degrees are modelled after the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) program, which also includes a compulsory house job. The chairman mentioned that the NCT consists of 22 members, with 14 members elected through an electoral process and eight members nominated by the government. Among the members, four represent the provinces, while four represent the Federal Capital, he said.

To enhance the quality of Tibb treatment, Saleemi disclosed that the NCT has introduced a system of renewing practitioners’ memberships every four years. He said that this process has been implemented since 2004 which ensures that practitioners update their resumes and keep their certifications up to date.

He said that regulatory bodies such as the Health Care Regulatory Authority and the Islamabad Health Care Regulatory Authority oversee the registration of practitioners to maintain quality standards.

He stated that the NCT is actively working on introducing specialized courses that meet the evolving needs of the field, including Hijama Therapy, Regimental Therapy, and Hydrotherapy. Responding to a question, he clarified that the Urdu word “Jaraat,” often translated as “surgery” in English, refers to the treatment of slipped joints, strains, joint displacement, disc issues, fractures, strains, and spasms in the Tibb.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2023.