World Health Organization officials have called for strict regulatory measures for traditional medicine in Africa in order to protect the public against potentially harmful practices.
The announcement, which coincided with the commemoration of African Traditional Medicine Day, could have broad implications for the estimated 80 percent of Africans who rely on traditional practitioners for their primary mode of care.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa, called upon researchers to work with traditional practitioners to produce scientific evidence on the safety, effectiveness and quality of their products, and urged African leaders to strengthen regulatory bodies for traditional health practitioners.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said, “The benefits of traditional medicine are evident to all, but there is no doubt proper regulation is essential to the provision of quality, safe and effective health care products and services. This is particularly important in rural areas where traditional medicine is sometimes the only affordable and available source of health care. Adherence to strict regulations would protect public safety by ensuring that traditional practitioners are properly trained and that their practice is endorsed by a regulatory body.”
Read also:
the 2010 Guidelines for Registration of Traditional Medicines in the African Region.
Source: www.voanews
