Islamabad: Senior leaders of the Pakistan Tibbi Conference have strongly opposed the proposed TCAM (Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) draft bill 2026, warning that it could weaken Pakistan’s already strained healthcare system.
In a joint statement, the signatories said the draft bill proposes the merger — and practical dismantling — of the National Council for Tibb (NCT) and the National Council for Homoeopathy (NCH), a move they believe would harm traditional healthcare services across the country.
Hakeem Muhammad Ahmad Saleemi, President of Pakistan Tibbi Conference (Punjab), said the timing of the bill is concerning. “Pakistan is already facing a serious shortage of doctors, with an estimated physician-to-patient ratio of around 1:1300. Our tertiary hospitals are overcrowded and primary healthcare is weak. In such conditions, traditional practitioners play a vital role, especially in rural and underserved areas,” he said.
He added that weakening parallel healthcare systems such as Tibb-e-Unani and Homoeopathy would increase pressure on public hospitals rather than modernize the system.
Hakeem Sirajjudin Chandio, President of Pakistan Tibbi Conference (Sindh), said that Tibb-e-Unani and Homoeopathy are independent systems of medicine with their own philosophies and educational structures. “These are not simple administrative categories that can be merged for bureaucratic convenience. The draft effectively abolishes existing councils and centralizes control, which goes against principles of decentralization and specialization,” he stated.
Hakeem Abdul Wahid Shamsi, President of Pakistan Tibbi Conference (KP), expressed concern over the proposal to discontinue diploma programs without providing a clear legal pathway for current students and diploma holders. “Thousands of students and practitioners could face uncertainty. Healthcare reform should bring stability and opportunity, not disruption,” he said.
The leaders also emphasized that there is no clear government policy or international requirement mandating the abolition of the councils. They said that traditional systems continue to provide affordable and accessible care to millions of Pakistanis and remain deeply trusted by the public.
According to Hakeem Zulfiqar Zahid, Secretary Information of Pakistan Tibbi Conference (Punjab), more than 80,000 practitioners across the country are represented by the Conference. “After detailed consultations, we unanimously concluded that the draft is unacceptable in its current form. Instead of replacing the entire legal framework, targeted amendments to the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners Act, 1965, should be considered if modernization is required,” he said.
Hakeem Hafiz Fareed Younas, Secretary General of Pakistan Tibbi Conference (Punjab), added that the National Council for Tibb operates on its own financial resources and does not burden the national treasury. “There is no fiscal justification for dissolving an institution that is functioning independently and effectively,” he remarked.
The signatories urged the government to initiate a transparent and inclusive consultation process involving councils, practitioners, academicians, and policymakers before moving forward.
“Reform is necessary,” the joint statement concluded, “but reform must strengthen the healthcare system, not weaken it. Pakistan cannot afford policies that reduce healthcare capacity at a time of growing public health needs