Hundreds of Mpuma healers register with Health Dept

The registration is part of a drive to amend the Health Act of 1977 that restrained the practice of traditional healers.

"We urge all [traditional healers] to register. Every province is in the process of finalising their registrations.

"Our government wants [traditional healers] to provide a professional service and be recognized," said department representative, Sarah Gumede.

It is estimated that about 60-80% of South Africans use
traditional medicine.

On Wednesday, the national Health Department announced that the draft Policy on African Traditional Medicine (ATM) had been gazetted for comment by the public before it is adopted as an official policy guiding the practice traditional medicine in the country.

The draft policy calls for the incorporation of African traditional medicine into the country's health systems based on the number of people who already use it.

It also recommends that a national institute of African traditional medicine be established to coordinate, undertake and provide leadership in the research of African traditional medicine.

The draft policy proposes that the envisaged institute be responsible for ensuring the safety, quality and timely availability of African traditional medicines and raw materials.

Members of the public and organisations have until end of October 2008 to comment on the draft policy.

The draft policy can be found on http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/policy-f.html

Article published courtesy of BuaNews