An academician, researcher and a Unani practitioner of highest repute, Prof. Shakir Jamil through his commendable mentorship and utmost devotion carved out the Department of Moalijat (Clinical Unani Medicine) at Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), into a unique seat of learning and brought its presence onto the national and global map. His commitment and utmost diligence helped him earn the degrees in Bachelor of Indian Medicine and Surgery (BIMS) and an M.D. in Moalijat. He was a gold medallist in BIMS (1976) while his MD thesis was a critically acclaimed piece of research, lauded by the Unani Fraternity, and had unravelled the effects of Unani formulation in therapeutic modulation of Arthritis, a chronic malady.
He started his teaching and clinical career as a Demonstrator in Moalijat at A & U Tibbia College, Karol Bagh, University of Delhi in 1978. He later joined Hamdard Tibbia College (now School of Unani Medicine and Research, SUMER, Jamia Hamdard) in 1984 as Senior Lecturer and through career progression attained the position of a Professor of Moalijat in 2004. An administrator par excellence, he effortlessly navigated the key leadership positions like being the Head, Dept. of Moalijat, erstwhile Faculty of Medicine, now SUMER, (2003-2010) and its Dean between 2005-2007. His elevation to the most venerated position of Director General, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India and the completion of a successful tenure thereof (2010-2015) is a testimony of his unmatched administrative skills. An ardent researcher, he produced 25 Masters theses in M.D.(Unani), contributed more than 70 research publications and shared his domain knowledge in Moalijat / Unani Medicine through a large number of conference, lecturing and presentations. During his vast period as teacher, he has been involved very actively with academic bodies i.e. Board of studies, faculty committees of various universities in the country.
Prof Shakir Jamil has been instrumental, through WHO (World Health Organization) in developing Zero drafts for the documents on “WHO Benchmarks for Practice in Unani Medicine”, “WHO Benchmarks for Training in Unani Medicine” and “Standardization of Unani terminology” from 2017-2022. These documents have been applauded as the base for establishing uniformity & standards of Unani practice, training & research globally. Which remains the need of the hour to prepare his zeal for tirelessly promoting Unani Medicine at international level, is evident from his current role of Course Director of Online Program on “Introduction to Unani Medicine” (Level I & II) offered by Al-Balagh Academy, United Kingdom.
As a committed Unani practitioner, he continues to instill life into a healthy India, while amicably treating thousands of both indoor and outdoor patients suffering from difficult to treat health conditions like Hepatobiliary, Respiratory & Skin diseases, Arthritis and life style diseases at organizations like Tibbia College, Karol Bagh and Jamia Hamdard.
For regulation of Unani education, Prof. Shakir Jamil has been a long serving associate with Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), New Delhi entrusted with regulation of Unani Education in India. He played a pivotal role in the revision of syllabi and curriculum of B.U.M.S. and M.D. courses by CCIM in 1990 to 2005. Later he was nominated to C.C.I.M as Member of the council (2012-2017).
His contributions towards traditional systems of medicine as an Expert in AYUSH Education Committee Constituted by Dept. of AYUSH, Ministry of Health, Govt. of India in 2008 have been lauded while his efforts towards developing the strategies for revival of Unani medicine organized by Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir in 1996 and the Planning of Institute of Alternative Medicine, at Panchkula in 1994 by Govt. Of Haryana are well recorded. He also served as Member of Task Force for Research and Development, constituted by Planning Commission for five-year plan, 2006-11 and acted as Member, UGC Committee for review of proposals of Aligarh Muslim University, for its 10th Plan performance and 11th Plan requirements in the year 2008.
His role as DG, CCRUM was exceptional where he led the various initiatives focused at enhancement of research and educational outcomes in Unani Medicine. He formulated and implemented the Intra-Mural Research Policies for upskilling of the researchers at the Council’s various regional centers. He foresaw the imperative need of scientific and structured research in Unani and hence constituted a wide variety of committees namely Animal Ethics Committee at CRIUM, Hyderabad, Ethics Committees in different
CRIs/RRIs/CRUs, Clinical Trials Registry- India (CTRI) registration for all ongoing and futuristic clinical trials Besides this, the joint high end research initiatives with Govt. organization like DST, NIPER, Hyderabad, IIIM, Jammu, National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai; Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology, Noida; National Institute of Nutrition & NIPER, Hyderabad were undertaken under his able stewardship.
He has tirelessly worked in the field of Regulatory Control of Unani Drugs & Formulations, wherein while being the DG, CCRUM, he worked as the Member Secretary, Unani Pharmacopeia Committee. He had earlier served as Member, Unani Pharmacopeia Committee (2005-2010), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. He had also rendered his services as Member, Drug and technical advisory board (AUSUDAB) Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India (2004-2009). He also headed as Chairman, a Sub Committee of AUSUDAB to examine Schedule Z and other relevant notifications which guided the amendments of the First Schedule of Drug and Cosmetic Act 1940 For the list of Authoritative ASU Books (2013). He was also on the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi in 2013.
At present, he is the Chief Advisor of Foundation of Social care and Hayat group of institutions, Lucknow, India and also the Chairman, Editorial Board, International Journal of Unani & Traditional Medicine, New Delhi (To be published shortly).
An insurmountable dedication, diligence, hard work and the fondness for the practice and training of Unani System of medicine has perpetually motivated Prof. Shakir Jamil to remain a competent and a committed professional having a profound vision to bring glory and global fame to this holistic profession of Unani Medicine. He indeed is an epitome of “hikmah” who has pledged his unflinching efforts towards achieving the target – Health for All.