To strengthen, promote, and regulate the Unani System of Medicine in the state, the Government of Uttar Pradesh established a separate Directorate of Unani Services on 11 October 2008. Since its establishment, the Directorate has been actively engaged in the development of Unani healthcare services, medical education, research, drug manufacturing, and public health outreach throughout the state.
The state presently operates two Government Unani Medical Colleges along with attached 100-bed teaching hospitals. These institutions include the State Takmeel-ut-Tib College and Hospital, established in 1902, and the State Unani Medical College and Hospital, established in 1904. Both institutions are affiliated with Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University and are recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), formerly known as the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM).
The Government Unani Medical Colleges offer the Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) programme of five and a half years duration, along with postgraduate MD/MS (Unani) courses in various specialties. The combined undergraduate intake capacity of both government colleges is 150 students, while postgraduate programmes collectively admit 72 students annually.
Apart from government institutions, the state also has 13 private Unani medical colleges affiliated with Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University. These institutions provide additional opportunities for Unani medical education with a total intake capacity of 730 undergraduate seats and 30 postgraduate seats.
The Directorate supervises an extensive healthcare network comprising 254 Government Unani Hospitals across the state, including 24 urban hospitals and 230 rural hospitals, ensuring accessible healthcare services in both urban and rural areas.
As per records dated 8 April 2022, more than 16,000 registered Unani practitioners (Hakeem) are enlisted under the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbi Systems of Medicine Uttar Pradesh, reflecting the strong presence and continued growth of the Unani system in the state.
To ensure the availability of quality medicines, Government Ayurvedic and Unani drug manufacturing unit has been established in Lucknow under the Directorate. This unit manufactures and supplies medicines to government Unani hospitals and health camps across the state. In addition, 326 private Unani pharmacies are functioning under the department, of which 187 pharmacies are certified under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ensuring quality standards in medicine production and distribution.
