Forming the golden triangle of top medical care

Jamia Hamdard offers a harmonious blend of traditional medicine, modern medicine and modern science for the benefit of patients

When Hakeem Abdul Hameed (1908-1999), a renowned Physician and Philanthropist, and Founder-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, laid the foundations for one of the leading universities in New Delhi, no one would have imagined that it would rank among India's leading institutions of higher education.
This year, for instance, the pharmacy college of the deemed university was ranked number three in India, out of 450 pharmacy colleges ranked by the HRD Ministry's National Institutional Ranking Framework, India Rankings 2016.
"As a university, we were ranked 18th among 700 institutions in the country," explains Dr G N Qazi, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard. "It is a great achievement for us."
According to Qazi, the founder's dream was to bring together traditional medicine, modern medicine and modern science in "a golden triangle," and that all three should work harmoniously.
After the university set up the MBBS programme, it succeeded in realising the founder's dream. "We have a 700-bed hospital, of which 150 beds are for traditional medicine," explains Qazi.
The Hamdard Institute of Medical Science and Research (HIMSR), which conducts the MBBS course, also offers BSc degrees in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, laboratory techniques, emergency and trauma care technology, optometry, medical imaging technology and operation theatre techniques.
The university established a skill centre about 18 months ago, providing training in nursing skills. "One of its greatest achievements is that it provides communication skills to medical professionals," says Qazi.
The skill centre is part of a project initiated by the Indian government to train 'trainers'. The nurses come from backward regions and undergo training. After training, they go back to their villages and provide training to others.
"We will provide similar training in other branches of science and technology," observes the vice-chancellor. "This university is transforming itself as per the present needs of the country. We don't just focus on bookish curricula, but want to provide hands-on training, which was missing earlier."
Jamia Hamdard also focuses on internationalising education, attracting students from the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. About 15 per cent of its students are foreigners from different parts of the world.
In a bid to attract more foreign students from the developing world, the university plans to offer a merit-cum-means subsidy to meritorious students. It already provides relief in tuition fees for students from war-torn countries or those coming from nations affected by strife.
Jamia Hamdard was conceived as a seat of higher learning in unani medicine, Islamic studies, biosciences, pharmacy, nursing and other areas of knowledge by its founder. Over the last 10 years, it has emerged as an outstanding institution of higher learning with distinct and focused academic programmes.
Last month, Hamdard Laboratories, announced the launch of a chain of Hamdard wellness centres, to provide an experiential high to those who choose an alternate way of well-being. These centres will offer quality unani medicines and expert unani physicians.
"Jamia Hamdard will be training the people at these centres," says Qazi. Ultimately, the company aims to have a chain of 150 such centres across the country over the next five years.
Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for AYUSH, inaugurated the centre in Delhi.
Located on a sprawling, 120-acre campus in south Delhi, Jamia Hamdard offers courses to thousands of students ranging from undergraduate levels to PhDs.

• India