BAMA urges policy reforms to revitalise alternative medicine sector

A delegation from the Bangladesh Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Association (BAMA), led by its President Dr Hakim Md Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan, met with Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum on 26 June 2025 to address longstanding issues surrounding the Unani, Ayurvedic, Herbal, and Homeopathic healthcare sectors in Bangladesh. Dr Bhuiyan, who also chairs the Bangladesh Unani Medical Association, presented a detailed 12-point demand to the adviser, seeking reforms and policy initiatives aimed at revitalising the country's alternative medicine landscape.

The meeting was also attended by Mrs Mallika Khatun, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Board of Unani and Ayurvedic Systems of Medicine. Accompanying the BAMA President were Secretary General Dr Mizanur Rahman, Principal of Hakim Habibur Rahman Unani Medical College A.K.M. Mahbubur Rahman Saki, Director of Information and Public Relations of Hamdard Bangladesh Amirul Momenin Manik, Director of Hamdard Foundation Brigadier General (Retd.) Mahbub Anwar, and former Senior District Judge Mohammad Kawsar, Legal Adviser to Hamdard Bangladesh.

Dr Harun Bhuiyan outlined the urgent need for a national policy on alternative medicine, highlighting that although Unani, Ayurvedic, Herbal, and Homeopathic systems were recognised under the 1982 Drug Ordinance, no comprehensive policy had been framed over the past four decades. He emphasised that the sector, despite its historic and cultural roots, continues to be neglected in national planning and budgeting, receiving little to no financial support from the Ministry of Health.

Among the demands presented were the removal of export restrictions that hinder the international trade of alternative medicine products, the introduction of equitable funding for research and education in these fields, and the formation of a dedicated regulatory council, similar to the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) for allopathic medicine. The delegation also proposed the establishment of a separate ministry for Herbal and Alternative Medicine, drawing inspiration from India's Ministry of AYUSH.

Further demands included the urgent development of an ethical code for practitioners, the founding of a government research institute dedicated to alternative medicine, and the reinstatement of faculty status for Unani-Ayurvedic departments at private universities, which had been revoked without due process in 2023. The delegation highlighted the need for career development structures for alternative medicine teachers, including fair recruitment, promotion, and retirement benefits.

They also called for the issuance of separate merit lists for private colleges offering Unani and Ayurvedic courses, and for the nationwide recruitment of Unani, Ayurvedic, and Homeopathic doctors in upazila and district hospitals where such roles remain vacant despite formal department structures.

In her response, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum assured the delegation of the caretaker government's sincere commitment to strengthening the alternative healthcare sector. She affirmed that the government would take effective steps, including the formation of a council and consideration of policy reforms, to address the concerns raised by BAMA. The meeting concluded with a shared hope for an inclusive and institutional approach to the sustainable development of alternative medicine in Bangladesh.