The popular medical system introduced during the Sultanate period was the Unani (or Yunani) system of medicine. This system, rooted in Greco-Arabic medicine, was brought to India by early Muslim conquerors and became widespread during the Sultanate era. It was known for its holistic approach and inclusion of various treatments, including surgery, pharmacology, dietary regulations, and therapeutic practices. Key points about the Unani system during the Sultanate period:

• The Unani system spread significantly under rulers like Alauddin Khilji and Firoz Shah Tughlaq, with the establishment of hospitals (Shifakhanas) where treatment, food, and medicine were provided free to the poor and needy.
• Kings actively supported public health through building hospitals and dispensaries, and medical teaching and ethical standards were highly valued.
• The system synthesized knowledge from Islamic medicine and combined it with local Indian medical traditions during this time.
• Prominent hospitals such as the Dar-u-Shifa built in 1595 served as large treatment centers with multiple physicians and facilities.
• Unani medicine focused on practical education for doctors, including seminars, clinical practice, and teaching ethics.

Thus, the Unani system was the popular and influential medical system introduced and developed during the Sultanate period in India.