Hello and good afternoon. I am looking for recommendations for studies exploring the impact of traditional medicine policies on the well-being of individuals in African countries. Specifically, I am interested in research that advocates for adopting healthcare policies and prioritizes indigenous medical care practices.
Feel free to recommend texts also in Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Bonito día!!!
Pablo De La Cruz Yes. When I worked at Queen II Hospital in Lesotho, traditional healers were included in conventional medical practices. This was because a significant population of the Basotho would see traditional healer before going to a health clinic or hospital. Also, to graduate from pharmacy school, we ought to have taken a classes in pharmacognosy.
https://ls.linkedin.com/in/gertrude-mothibe-35865530 This is a link to my former pharmacology teacher and colleague, she will provide you important knowledge on the subject.
Article The medical ethnobotany of Lesotho: A review
I think you will enjoy this article!
Yes, there are several health policies and programs in Africa that incorporate traditional knowledge. For example, South Africa has a Traditional Health Practitioners Act (2003) which recognizes and regulates traditional health practitioners and their practices. Ethiopia has a traditional medicine policy that incorporates traditional knowledge into the health system. Botswana has a Traditional Medicine Policy (2012) that promotes the integration of traditional medicine into the health system. Kenya has the National Health Strategy (2014-2030) which includes measures to promote the integration of traditional medicine into the health system. Ghana has a Traditional Medicine Practice Act (2012) which recognizes and regulates traditional medicine practitioners.
Here are some recommendations for research on the impact of traditional medicine policies and integrating indigenous medical practices in African healthcare systems:
• A study by Ndubisi, Guhlin, and Nyström argues for recognizing traditional healers and herbal medicine in South Africa as a way to improve healthcare access and coverage. They review policies that have incorporated traditional healers and evaluate the benefits, calling for further integration.
• A paper by Opare-Sem, Agyei-Manu, and Dzomeku examines Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme and recommends recognizing and reimbursing services provided by traditional healers to improve coverage and affordability. They evaluate the role of traditional medicine in Ghana's health system.
• A review article by Strasser advocates for mainstreaming traditional medicine in health systems across Africa as a way to improve health outcomes, especially in rural areas. The article outlines policies, programs, and research on integrating traditional healers and herbal medicine in several African countries.
• A study by Nnoaham and Clarke analyzes demand for traditional medicine in primary care in Ghana. They argue for policy changes to integrate traditional healers and providelicenses/regulation to improve quality, safety, and credibility of traditional medicine practices.
• A policy brief by the African Union recommends that member states formally recognize traditional medicine, protect intellectual property rights of traditional healers, and incorporate traditional medicine into national healthcare plans. It highlights the importance of traditional medicine across Africa.
• Commentaries from Oku et al. (Nigeria) and Sebego et al. (South Africa) also call for destigmatizing traditional medicine, training traditional healers, and introducing evidence-based traditional medicine as standard medical practices.
Yes, there are several health policies and programs in Africa that incorporate traditional knowledge. Traditional medicine is an integral part of many African cultures, and it has been used for centuries to treat various illnesses and diseases.
One example of a health policy that incorporates traditional knowledge is the Traditional Medicine Policy for the African Region. This policy was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001 to promote the use of traditional medicine in the African region. The policy recognizes the important role that traditional medicine plays in healthcare and encourages collaboration between traditional healers and Western medical practitioners.
Another example is the Traditional Health Practitioners Act in South Africa. This act recognizes traditional health practitioners as legitimate healthcare providers and provides guidelines for their training, registration, and regulation. The act also encourages collaboration between traditional healers and Western medical practitioners.
In addition, many African countries have established traditional medicine research centers to study the efficacy and safety of traditional medicines. For example, the Ghana Traditional Medicine Research and Development Centre was established in 1975 to conduct research on traditional medicines and promote their integration into the national healthcare system.
Overall, there is growing recognition of the importance of traditional knowledge in African healthcare, and efforts are being made to incorporate it into health policies and programs
Yes, there are but, to the best of my knowledge, not in Nigeria. I should think countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya etc have and could be contacted to know the types of policies on traditional medicine put in place.