The Nigerian Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare has advocated for the alignment of Traditional Medicine Products and practices with set standard of quality, safety and efficacy.
In a press release from the Ministry, Dr. Tunji Alausa revealed this during the 2024 African Traditional Medicine Day Celebration and official launch of Traditional Medicine Policy and Nigerian Essential Medicinal Plants List, held on Tuesday 3rd September, 2024 in Abuja.
This year’s event is themed “Support the Provision of Quality and Safe Traditional Medicine through Appropriate Regulatory Mechanisms”.
The Minister said it underscores a crucial goal in the current efforts of the Nigerian government, through the Ministry, in enhancing the health outcomes for all Nigerians, adding that as we celebrate the invaluable contributions of Traditional Medicine, it is equally important to ensure that the practices are safe, effective and wel-regulated.
He said traditional medicine in Nigeria is mostly a repository of knowledge and practice passed from generations to generations. “It is also used in preventing and eliminating physical, mental or social diseases” he said.
“Traditional Medicine has long been a part of our health system, especially for those in rural areas”, Dr. Alausa added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that traditional medicine is used by almost 80% of rural populace; some even as their primary form of healthcare, according to the Minister.
While expressing dissatisfaction at the lack of regulations for traditional medicine safety, he said it’s the biggest challenge that is affecting the system, not only in Nigeria but in Africa as a whole.
He added that the systematic collection and analysis of traditional medicine use safety data, is crucial to protect the patients and the public.
Dr. Tunji pointed out that to achieve the desired goal of safety and quality, regulatory frameworks must be strengthen, through updating and enforcing existing regulations and establishing clear guidelines for the preparation and distribution of Traditional Medicine and fostering collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners and the regulatory bodies.
While emphasizing the important role play by Regulatory bodies and Research Institutes such as National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON ), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Raw Material Research and Development Council and the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, he urged traditional medicine practitioners to utilize these agencies to improve their manufacturing practices with a view to producing better quality and safe products and improving acceptability.
He narrated some of the achievements recorded by NAFDAC an agency under the Ministry, in ensuring safe medicine and wholesome food of right quality are sold to the citizenry, such as, vigorous inspection of facilities to ascertain preparedness of the herbal practitioners to set standards of manufacturing, putting measure to curtail unwarranted manufacture, importation and advertisement of herbal medicine as well as formulation of guidelines for good manufacturing practices in herbal medicine production and listing of 200 Traditional Medicinal products assuring their safety and efficiency.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry identified the significant role plays by traditional medicine, describing the African Traditional Medicine Day as a day to call for action as it reminds everyone about the great contributions of traditional medicine in human lives , hence the need to integrate it into the country’s healthcare system.
Daju Kachollom S. mni, said the theme of this year’s event “Support the Provision of Quality and Safe Traditional Medicine through Appropriate Regulatory Mechanisms” indicates the need to regulate the framework to ensure that practices and products are safe, pointing out that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has done a significant strides in this direction.
She commended the African Union and the World Health Organization for their role in promoting traditional medicine in Africa, adding that the contributions of the Department of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine under the Head, Pharmacist, Tile T. Titus in ensuring that traditional medicine is integrated into the Nation’s health system is commendable, urging for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to dedicate themselves in harnessing the potentials of improving health outcomes and attainment of Universal Health Coverage.