Post: Stakeholders Urged to Play Role in Integrating Ethiopia’s Traditional Medicines

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority called experts and other stakeholders to contribute their fair share in the national endeavors of strengthening, integrating traditional medicines into conventional systems.A panel discussion on ways of enhancing and integrating traditional medicines into the conventional national health system was held among stakeholders in Addis Ababa today.Speaking at the occasion, Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority Director General Heran Gerba stated that the authority has been giving due emphasis on supporting and enhancing practitioners of traditional medicine in the country through various supportive packages.80 percent of the population of Ethiopia relies on traditional medicines for their basic health needs, she pointed out.In this respect, the Director General stressed the need for working hard to strengthen and integrate traditional medicines into the conventional health system is crucial in improving the health of the society at large.She further pointed out that the authority is working in collaboration with stakeholders on efforts of bolstering the capacity of traditional medicine practitioners and integrating them into the conventional health system.For her, this endeavor requires a strict control of quality, safety and efficacy of the traditional medicines in Ethiopia.The director-general further urged practitioners to register their traditional medicines for authorization and good quality assurance process and standardization of traditional medicines products, stressing that it is mandatory unless they are exposed to various forms of abuse and adulteration.On his part Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Lead Executive Officer at the Ministry of Health, Regassa Bayisa said that the ministry has been supporting and strengthening practitioners of traditional medicines to be integrated into the national health system.The activities have been carried out to anticipate practitioners to be integrated through policy development, capacity building activities a nd countering false advocacy of unauthorized traditional medicines, the officer elaborated.The ministry has also been engaged in retaining knowledge and planting seedlings of medicinal values during the green legacy initiative campaigns, he added.Moreover, the Ministry of Health in consultation with pertinent stakeholders, has been preparing a three national strategic plan that focuses on enhancing research, innovation and integration of traditional medicines into conventional health systems.Bejoy P. Nambiar, from the WHO Country Office for Ethiopia, reiterated commitment to support the efforts in integrating the knowledge and practices of traditional medicines with science to provide high quality medicine services to the community.Hence, strengthening practitioners of traditional medicines with engaging them to actively participate in the process of policy development on issues on enhancing and integrating traditional medicines with science and the national health system is crucial, he noted,Nambia r further reaffirmed his organization's commitment to support efforts of institutionalizing Ethiopian Traditional medicines.Ethiopia is said to be the home of some 6,000 to 7000 flora species and 10 percent of which have medicinal value, it was indicated.Source: Ethiopian News Agency