Introduction
The Unani system of medicine is recognized and practiced in many countries worldwide. In most of the countries generally, the traditional and complementary system of medicine is not very well covered by insurance companies. The Unani system of medicine because of its rapid growth worldwide, initiated in the formulation of a national health policy and insurance coverage plan was developed for the Unani system of medicine in certain countries as below.
National health coverage for Unani system of medicine
The countries which have national health coverage for the Unani system of medicine are:
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
- United Arab Emirates
India
National Health Service
The Unani system of medicine is popular amongst Indians. It forms an integral part of the Indian health care system. The Central Government of India in 1983 formulated a national health policy titled “Health services for all”. This policy was implemented in the year 2000. Unani medicine clinics were open in government hospitals and in primary health care centers nation wide as per the national health policy.
The Unani hospitals and clinics are spread out all over India in 21 states and union territories. The total number of Unani hospitals in India is 269 with a bed capacity of 4894. The Unani clinics and dispensaries nationwide are 1146.[1] These hospitals and clinics are under the management of the Central Government or the State government. These hospitals and clinics cover total costs for inpatient and out patient treatments. Treatments are free, that is, no fee is charged to Indian nationals.
The distribution of Unani hospitals, clinics and dispensaries all over India depicted in the table below [2]:
| No. | States / union territories | Hospitals | Beds | Clinics / Dispensaries |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 6 | 315 | 207 |
| 2 | Assam | – | – | 1 |
| 3 | Bihar | 4 | 414 | 128 |
| 4 | Delhi | 4 | 311 | 19 |
| 5 | Haryana | 1 | 10 | 20 |
| 6 | Himachal Pradesh | – | – | 3 |
| 7 | Jammu and Kashmir | 2 | 200 | 171 |
| 8 | Karnataka | 10 | 167 | 45 |
| 9 | Kerala | – | – | 1 |
| 10 | Madhya Pradesh | 1 | 60 | 55 |
| 11 | Maharashtra | 5 | 795 | 23 |
| 12 | Orissa | – | – | 9 |
| 13 | Punjab | – | – | 35 |
| 14 | Rajasthan | 5 | 270 | 77 |
| 15 | Tamil Nadu | – | – | 6 |
| 16 | Uttar Pradesh | 136 | 1186 | 148 |
| 17 | West Bengal | 2 | 110 | – |
| 18 | Andaman Nicobar islands | – | – | – |
Medical insurance companies in India
India has set an example for providing traditional and complementary system of medicine insurance. Since there is a demand for Traditional and Complementary medicine by the Indian population, insurance companies have started to cover these treatments.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) is the chief regulatory body for insurance in India.[3]
The General Insurance council which is a subsidiary of IRDA is responsible for covering claims for non-allopathic treatment. The IRDA has recognized the following companies as the health insurance companies in India which cover insurance for Unani treatments.
| Name | Website | Contact |
| HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co. Ltd. | http://www.hdfcergo.com/ [4] | HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co. Ltd. 6th Floor, Leela Business Park, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri(East), Mumbai 400 059. Phone : 022 – 6638 3600 |
| Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd | http://www.apollomunichinsurance.com/ [5] | Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd., 10th Floor, Tower – B, Building No. 10, DLF Cyber City, DLF City Phase II, Gurgaon, Haryana, Pin: 122002 Phone: +91-124-4584333 Fax: +91-124-4584111 |
| The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) | LIC Customer Zone Delhi, H-39, New Asiatic Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi-110001 Info Center number :1251 or 011-23762681 | |
| Future Generali | http://www.futuregenerali.in[7] | 001, Delta Plaza, 414, Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400 025 |
Insurance fees in India
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co. Ltd has a health policy called “Suraksha Policy” which covers the medical expenses for inpatient Unani treatments. The payment is done on the amount insured. For Unani inpatient treatments It pays up to 20% of the insured amount. Maximum of INR (Indian Rupees) 20,000 is for INR 200 000 and INR 25,000 is for INR 300 000 policy.[8]
Pakistan
The Unani system of medicine is thriving in Pakistan. The Ministry of Health, Pakistan, under its subsidiary National council for tibb has hospitals and dispensaries all over Pakistan. (There are no records available, how many and where).
There is only one International Insurance company in Pakistan which is offering limited insurance coverage for Unani treatments.
Insurance company:
Pacific Prime Insurance Company
Website: http://www.pacificprime.com/countries/pakistan/
Contact details: Asia and Middle East Sales and Service:
Tel: 3113 1331 (in Hong Kong) / +852 3113 1331 (International dialing to Hong Kong). [9]
Bangladesh
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) is responsible for the Bangladesh national health care system and policy. “The Homeo, Unani and Ayurvedic Board” is responsible for executing the national health care policy. Under its Alternative Medical Care (AMC) program the Unani system of medicine treatments are offered all over Bangladesh in government hospitals and clinics. The treatments are offered free.[10]
There are no insurance companies offering coverage for the Unani system of medicine in Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Health under the ministry of indigenous systems of medicine is responsible for the Unani and Ayurvedic hospitals and dispensaries which are spread all over Sri Lanka.[11]
There are no insurance companies which offer coverage for Unani system of medicine in Sri Lanka.
United Arab Emirates
The Dubai health care city’s regulatory body has given licence to the following Tradtional and Complementary systems; Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani Medicine, Osteopathy, Therapeutic Massage, Naturopathy, Chiropractic and Tai-Chi, Pilates, Yoga and Guided Imagery treatments. The OIC (Oman Insurance Company) covers all the 12 complementary and alternative medicine treatments.[12]
Insurance Company:
Oman Insurance Company (PSC), or OIC, is one of the prominent insurance companies in the Middle East. The Head office of this company is in Dubai’s Health City.
Head Office
Dubai Airport Free Zone
Building: 5W, 7th & 8th Floor
Dubai. United Arab Emirates.
Phone: +971 4 233 7777
Fax: +971 4 233 7775
Website: http://www.tameen.ae/ [13]
Email: [email protected]
References
- Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). Summary of infrastructure facilities under ayurveda, yoga & naturopathy, unani, siddha And homoeopathy (ayush) as on 1.4.2008. [Online]. Available from: http://indianmedicine.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=44 [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of science and Technology, Govt. of India. http://www.dsir.gov.in/reports/ittp_tedo/ism/ISM_USM_Research.pdf
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority. Composition of Authority. [Online]. Available from: http://www.irda.gov.in/[Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited. [Online]. Available from: http://www.hdfcergo.com/ [Accessed 2nd May 2011]. [5].
- Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd. About Us. [Online]. Available from: http://www.apollomunichinsurance.com/aboutus.aspx [Accessed 26th July 2012].
- Life Insurance Corporation of India. [Online]. Available from: http://www.licindia.in/ [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Future group, Future Generali [Online]. Available from: http://www.futuregenerali.in [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited. Health Suraksha [Online]. Available from: http://www.hdfcergo.com/ [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Pacific Prime Insurance Company. [Online]. Available from: http://www.pacificprime.com/countries/pakistan/ [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW). Bangladesh national health care system and policy [Online]. Available from: http://www.mohfw.gov.bd [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Ministry of Indigenous system of Medicine. [Online]. Available from: http://www.indigenousmedimini.gov.lk/ [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Oman Insurance Company (OIC) Dubai Healthcare insurance pact[Online]. Available from: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_172058.html [Accessed 2nd May 2011].
- Oman Insurance Company (OIC) [Online]. Available from: http://www.tameen.ae/en/ [Accessed 17th May 2011].
