What is National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH)?

About National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH):

• The NIIMH, formerly known as the National Center of Indian Medical Heritage (NCIMH), provides resource materials for historians, scientists, and other workers who are interested in studying and documenting the historical aspects of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, and Sowa Rigpa (AYUSH), along with Modern Medicine.
• It came into existence as the Upgraded Department of History of Medicine from 26-09-1956 under the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and was handed over to Govt. of India on 14-02-1969 due to its national and international importance.
• The institute is functioning under the administrative control of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
• This Institute, which is only of its kind in South East / Asia is located in Dilsuknagar, Hyderabad.
• Mandate:
  • Literary Research and Documentation
  • Revival and retrieval of texts from Ancient manuscripts and rare books
  • Search and Collection of information, descriptive notes, editing and publication of rare medical manuscripts/books on AYUSH.
  • Documentation
  • Ayurveda Encyclopedia
  • Museum on History of Medicine
  • Referral library on AYUSH Systems of Medicine and modern medicine.
  • AYUSH Research Portal
  • CCRAS-Research Management Information System
  • National AYUSH Morbidity and Standardized Terminoligies Electronic – Portal.
  • Development of W.H.O International Terminologies of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani.
  • Development of SNOMED CT National Extension for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani.
• It has global access owing to its enormous collection of research materials on History of Medicine.
• The institute has aMedico-Historical Library, Museum and Documentation section.
• The Institute’s library is unique with collection of more than 10,000 books, which include very rare publications date back to 15th century on History of Medicine & allied subjects in various languages and serving to medical fraternity as research referral centre.
• It has complete collection of standard National & International Journal on History of Medicine since its inception. 
• The institute also publishes the Journal of Indian Medical Heritage.

Q1: What is WHO-Collaborating Centre (CC)?

By definition, a WHO collaborating centre is an institution designated by the Director-General of WHO to form part of an international collaborative network set up by WHO in support of its programme at the country, intercountry, regional, interregional and global levels. In line with the WHO policy and strategy of technical cooperation, a WHO collaborating centre also participates in the strengthening of country resources, in terms of information, services, research and training, in support of national health development.Designation is made with the agreement of the head of the establishment to which the institution is attached or with that of the director of the institution, if it is independent, and after consultation with the national government.

Sources: WHO collaborates with Hyderabad-based NIIMH for traditional medicine research

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