Experts Urge Dedicated Ministry for Traditional Medicine Integration in Pakistan

A two-day seminar titled “Research, Processing, and Product Development of Herbal Medicines,” jointly organized

A two-day seminar titled “Research, Processing, and Product Development of Herbal Medicines,” jointly organized by COMSTECH and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), concluded in Lahore with a strong and unified appeal for integrating traditional medicine into Pakistan’s formal healthcare system. The event brought together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and regulatory experts, who collectively emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s alternative medicine sector through institutional support and modern scientific standards.

On the opening day, Kashif Aslam Malik, President of the Pakistan Association of Alternative Medicine (PAAM), held a meeting with the Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal. During this meeting, he presented a detailed policy proposal advocating the creation of an independent and autonomous ministry dedicated to alternative and traditional medicine. According to him, such an institutional framework is essential to ensure proper regulation, development, and national-level recognition of the sector, allowing it to contribute more effectively to public health and the national economy.

This demand gained further momentum on the second day of the seminar when Hakeem Muhammad Ahmad Saleemi, President of the National Council for Tibb (NCT), strongly supported the call for a separate ministry. He highlighted the need for Pakistan to adopt a model similar to India’s AYUSH system, which integrates Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy under one coordinated institutional structure. He stressed that aligning Pakistan’s traditional medicine framework with World Health Organization guidelines would help improve global recognition, research quality, and regulatory compliance.

Throughout the seminar, several other experts also shared their perspectives, including Hakeem Irfan Akram, Dr. Amanullah Bismal, Najam Jawa, Arslan Tariq (Deputy Director, DRAP), and Dr. Abdul Rasheed (former Director, DRAP), along with a number of scholars and professionals associated with herbal and Unani medicine. They collectively discussed the need for structured reforms in research, production, and regulation of herbal medicines in Pakistan.

Hakeem Muhammad Ahmad Saleemi emphasized that incorporating Unani medicine more formally into the national healthcare system is a critical step toward strengthening primary healthcare delivery. He also stressed the importance of establishing dedicated research institutions that can scientifically validate traditional treatments, improve product quality, and ensure patient safety. Such institutions, he argued, would bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern medical science.

Similarly, Kashif Aslam Malik reiterated that without the establishment of a dedicated ministry, the alternative medicine sector would remain fragmented and unable to reach its full potential. He argued that a centralized authority would not only improve governance but also unlock opportunities for export growth, international collaboration, and economic development through herbal medicine products.

1. The technical sessions of the seminar focused on improving quality standards for herbal medicines, developing clinical trial frameworks, and exploring export opportunities in international markets. Participants reached a broad consensus that the government should prioritize integrating qualified alternative medicine practitioners into public healthcare centers. This step, they noted, would help elevate service delivery standards and bring Pakistan closer to international best practices in integrative healthcare.

In conclusion, the seminar highlighted a growing momentum among stakeholders for the formal recognition and institutional strengthening of traditional medicine in Pakistan, with strong calls for policy reform, scientific validation, and structured integration into the national health system.