- Cooperation between traditional medical practice providers and
allopathic practitioners - Attention to the unsustainable use of medicinal plant resources.
Rational use
- Training of traditional medical practice providers
- Training of allopathic practitioners in traditional medical practice
- Communication among TPs, allopathic practitioners and consumers
- Public information on the rational use of TMs.
Addressing WHO deficiencies in traditional medical
practice in Africa
The following text considers what progress has been made by western,
eastern and southern African states in addressing these deficits. Particular
emphasis is placed on the quality/safety/efficacy assessment and conserva-
tion of plants used as TMs, as well as on issues of intellectual property asso-
ciated with indigenous knowledge systems.
National policy and regulation
Regulatory/legal mechanisms
During the colonial period, traditional medical practice was discouraged or
prohibited in most African countries. Colonial administrations had little faith
in the efficacy of TMs and saw the practice as a system that prevented
patients receiving effective western medicine.31,32Post-colonial governments
have sought to redress this situation, and traditional medical practice is now
widely accepted.
As can be seen from Table 5.3 progress with the formulation of national
policies on traditional medical practice and with the establishment of legal
and regulatory mechanisms in respect of traditional medical practice varies
between states. According to Kasilo et al.,^12 61% of states in the WHO
African Region have national traditional medical practice policies, 86%
have traditional medical practice administrative centres (usually affiliated to
the health ministry) and 78% have traditional medical practice research
units, demonstrating a commitment to the promotion and development of
the scientific basis of African traditional medical practice. An estimated
58% of states in the region have laws or regulations dealing with traditional
medical practice, 44% have national expert committees and 19% a system
of registration for TPs. A legal framework for the practice of traditional
medicine is in place in 53% of states and management bodies for the coor-
dination of matters pertaining to traditional practice in 57%.
96 |Traditional medicine