Traditional Medicine in Asia

A framework for cost-benefit analysis of traditional medicine and conventional medicine
delivering child survival messages and in
managing endemic disease in partnership
with modern health care workers.
There is now an emerging momentum
to begin a process of formalization of
traditional medicine in Africa.
In Uganda, new legislation is being
developed to ensure a role for TRM in
national health care, in part as a result of
the successful engagement of traditional
healers in combating the AIDS epidemic in
the country.
South Africa’s parliament, on 5 August,
1998, proposed that a statutory council
be set up to regulate the 350,000
traditional healers. A report by a parliamentary
committee on social services
proposed that the council should present
its recommendations within three years [by
2001] for the drafting of final legislation.
A Parliamentary Committee on Social
Services in South Africa proposed that the
profession of traditional healing should be
divided into four categories: the inyanga
(traditional doctors or herbalists); the
sangoma (diviner); birth attendants or
midwives; and traditional surgeons who
mainly do circumcision. Spiritual healers
were not included because their training
and accreditation was considered
“unclear” and “ill-defined”. 44
In South Africa, many traditional
healers are members of well-organized
national organizations that are seeking
formal recognition from the Government.
In one instance of WHO-sponsored
collaboration, it has been recognized that
the rapid increase in TB caseload, especially
in African countries heavily affected by the
HIV epidemic, requires a search for effective
ways to treat patients outside hospital. As
a component of WHO’s Community Care
for Tuberculosis in Africa Project, Wilkinson,
et al. (1999), studied the potential role for
collaboration between the health service
and traditional healers, especially as TB
treatment supervisors, and examined what
precedent and potential exists for traditional
healers to act in this role. 17
Before commencing collaborative
effort in health care between modern and
traditional sectors, a careful assessment of
potential benefits and obstacles should be
made. The medical services utilization
patterns of the communities need to be
ascertained and the specific role of
traditional health practitioners considered.
In such efforts the ideas of healers
themselves about possible collaboration
are crucial. 19
Ghana has recently passed the
Traditional Medicine Practice Act 2000, Act
595, to establish a Council to regulate and
control the practice of TRM. The primary
draft of this act originated from the
traditional healers themselves. The Act
defines TRM as “practice based on beliefs
and ideas recognized by the community to
provide health care by using herbs and
other naturally occurring substances”, and
herbal medicine as “any finished labelled
medicinal products that contain as active
ingredients aerial or underground parts of
plants or other plant materials or the
combination of them whether in crude
state or plant preparation.” It is arranged
into four sections, namely the establishment
and functions of the Traditional Medicine
Practice Council; registration of practitioners;
licensing of practices; and
miscellaneous provisions.
Ghana’s Ministry of Health has
incorporated a Traditional Medicine Unit
since 1991, and in 1999 this was
upgraded to the status of a Directorate.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the
Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine
Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM)
and other stakeholders, has now developed
a five-year strategic plan for TRM. This plan
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