Strengthening Traditional Health Systems

On December 31 2013 achieved results are: 1) Improved policy and regulatory frameworks: 40 countries have now updated malaria policies. 7 countries now have conservation policies and a majority of countries now have to various degrees regulations bills decrees and plans governing or supporting the use of Traditional Medicine (TM). 2) Increased institutional integration of TM within national health systems: 13 countries allocate funds to TM and there is an overall increased interest to do so. More than 25 essential products are included on national lists of essential medicines in 5 countries (from 1 to 11 depending on the country). Ghana has collaboration initiatives between national offices and/or TM programs and conventional health services. Links protocols and interface units were created to ensure collaboration between TM and conventional medicine systems in different countries. 3) Strengthened national and international partnerships established in WHO Africa Region: 33 countries have established National Federations/Associations of Tradition Health Practitioners. 13 functional networks exist in 10 countries while 1 strategy for the African region and 5 declarations on TM were adopted by Regional Committees by Ministers of Health and Heads of States and by Governments. 4) Improved evidence-based research results on the safety efficacy and quality of TM: 13 countries have used Research and Development (R&D) to issue marketing authorizations. 3 countries now have national herbal pharmacopeia. Strengthened regulatory systems have improved safety efficacy and potency of TM. There is an increased availability of pharmacopeia booklets. New services for testing herbal medicines were put in place. TM is better regulated and information on TM is better disseminated among practitioners and health workers. 5) Progress towards the establishment of sustainable local TM industries: Since 2000 2 more countries have improved their manufacturing facilities. 12 more cou