The utilisation of traditional herbal medicine has seen a substantial increase worldwide and has served as a primary healthcare choice for treating various diseases long before conventional medicine. In Africa, approximately 80% of the population rely on traditional herbal medicine for their primary healthcare needs due to its perceived safety, ease of access, affordability, and reduced risk of side effects. Although the use of herbal traditional medicine has increased, they have not yet been integrated into the healthcare system and the regulation thereof has been challenging. This research study aims to determine the factors affecting the integration of herbal traditional medicine into the healthcare system and the regulation thereof, the effectiveness of the current regulatory policies, and the knowledge and perceptions of traditional health practitioners on the regulation of herbal traditional medicine. The findings of this study may contribute to the current knowledge of traditional medicine regulation and may aid in the development of new and effective regulatory policies.

Collaborators: Prof Sechaba Bareetseng (Indigenous Knowledge Systems, CSIR), Ms Petunia Degashu (Department of Pharmacology, University of Pretoria)

Applicable research levels: Regulatory affairs at Hons, and MSc level

Minimum skillsets at MSc level: Regulatory Affairs (regulatory background)

Students: Ms Nthakoana Rasemetsa (MSc candidate); Vacancy available

Resources: 

https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/87227/Netzer_Appraisal_2021.pdf?sequence=1

https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.36303/SAGP.2021.2.3.0065