African countries should make use of intellectual provisions to protect their innovations when it comes to African traditional medicines, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Monday.
”Africa should make use of intellectual-property provisions to protect its innovation with regard to indigenous knowledge and African traditional medicine,” Tshabalala-Msimang said at a two-day Africa regional consultative meeting on public health, innovation and intellectual property in Johannesburg.
The minister’s statement follows a report by the Sunday Times, which alleged that a German drug firm, ISO Arzneimittel, has patented a plant found in the Eastern Cape for use in the treatment of HIV/Aids.
The plant — Pelargonium — is believed to have been used by local communities for many years for treatment of diseases and symptoms such as pain, fatigue, depression, insomnia and Aids-related infections such as tuberculosis, herpes and pneumonia.
The minister said implementation of continental initiatives with focus on research and development of traditional medicine needed to be enhanced.
Africa should also take a common position on issues of fair trade with regard to medicines affecting public health, she said.
The two-day meeting is part of the World Health Organisation initiative to develop a plan of action aimed at enhancing needs-driven, essential health research and development relevant to diseases which affect developing countries. — Sapa