A draft policy on African traditional medicine has been gazetted for public comment, the Department of Health said on Wednesday.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in a statement: ”It [the policy] provides a transformational process for formal recognition of the African traditional medicine system to acknowledge our heritage as a country and to address issues of capacitating and protecting traditional health practitioners and the users of African traditional medicine.”
It would also protect traditional knowledge and strengthen the national health system.
Tshabalala-Msimang the country’s health system needed to reflect the diverse health disciplines used in South Africa.
The draft policy makes recommendations on the legal and legislative framework to incorporate traditional medicine into the country’s health systems based on the large number of people who already use it.
It recommends that a national institute of African traditional medicine be established to coordinate, undertake and provide leadership in research.
It also proposes that the institute be responsible for ensuring the safety, quality and timely availability of medicines and raw materials.
Members of the public and organisations have until late October 2008 to comment on the draft policy, which can be found on the Department of Health’s website. – Sapa