The Economics of Non-Traditional Health Cadres: The Last Hope for Health Systems in SubSaharan Africa?

Traditional Health Knowledge (THK) has been a resource for modern pharmacology and the pharma-ceutical industry since its inception. Until the 2000s, there was little obligation to acknowledge the use of THK by the pharmaceutical industry. Now, with the intellectual property regime becoming a prominent mode of regulating use of pharmaceutical inventions and innovations, and attempts by the pharmaceutical industry to patent products based on THK, rights of THK holders are being fore-grounded. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is seeking to protect the rights of THK holders through international legal instruments under the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) framework. This article discusses dilemmas arising from this attempt at bringing together two diverse knowledge frameworks. It draws upon existing literature on the nature of THK and upon the debates of the WIPO’s Inter-Governmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expression (WIPO-IGC), and analyses them from the standpoint of a holistic health systems approach (HHSA) in an era of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The approach leads to the conclusion that deliberations and promulgations of the WIPO-IGC will have long-lasting implications for the survival of diversity and context-specificity in healthcare. Therein lies the significance of thinking through the policy and legal measures to be adopted nationally and internationally.

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Perceptions and experiences of allopathic health practitioners on collaboration with traditional health practitioners in post-apartheid South Africa

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v8i2.1007 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Simon M. Nemutandani ◽

Stephen J. Hendricks ◽

Mavis F. Mulaudzi

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health System ◽

Health Systems ◽

Quality Of Health Care ◽

Indigenous Health ◽

Traditional Healers ◽

Traditional Health ◽

Traditional Health Practitioners ◽

Health Practitioners

Background: The indigenous health system was perceived to be a threat to the allopathic health system. It was associated with ‘witchcraft’, and actively discouraged, and repressed through prohibition laws. The introduction of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 of 2007 brought hope that those centuries of disrespect for traditional health systems would change. The study examined the perceptions and experiences of allopathic health practitioners on collaboration with traditional health practitioners in post-apartheid South Africa.Methods: Qualitative descriptive research methodology was used to collect data from allopathic health practitioners employed by Limpopo’s Department of Health. In-depth focus group discussions and meetings were conducted between January and August 2014. Perceptions and experiences of working with traditional health practitioners were explored. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Pretoria and approval from the Department’s Research Committee.Results: Dominant views were that the two health systems were not compatible with respect to the science involved and the source of knowledge. Overall, quality of health care will be compromised if traditional health practitioners are allowed to work in public health facilities.Conclusion: Allopathic health practitioners do not appear ready to work with traditional health practitioners, citing challenges of quality of health care, differences regarding concept of sciences and source of knowledge; and lack of policy on collaboration. Lack of exposure to traditional medicine seems to impede opportunities to accept and work with traditional healers. Exposure and training at undergraduate level regarding the traditional health system is recommended. Policy guidelines on collaborations are urgently required.

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Improving South African medical curricula related to traditional health systems

African Journal of Health Professions Education ◽

10.7196/ajhpe.2021.v13i2.1246 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

C Lawrence ◽

J Bollinger ◽

K A Stewart ◽

Mosa Moshabela

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Health Systems ◽

Medical Curricula ◽

Traditional Health

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The “Rebar” Disruptors: A Wake-Up Call for Traditional Health Systems

NEJM Catalyst ◽

10.1056/cat.20.0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Author(s):

J. Marc Overhage ◽

John Glaser

Keyword(s):

Health Systems ◽

Traditional Health

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Global Initiative for Traditional Health Systems

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine ◽

10.1089/acm.1996.2.327 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 327-330

Author(s):

Terence J. Ryan

Keyword(s):

Health Systems ◽

Traditional Health ◽

Global Initiative

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Fostering Traditional Health Systems and Ethnomedicine Practices through a Holistic Approach: A Pioneering Community Strategy from Southern India

International Quarterly of Community Health Education ◽

10.2190/iq.30.1.b ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 3-20

Author(s):

Maria Costanza Torri

Keyword(s):

Health Systems ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Southern India ◽

Medical Practitioners ◽

Local Livelihoods ◽

Traditional Health ◽

The Social ◽

Community Strategy ◽

Entrepreneurial Activities ◽

The Impact

The ever-presence of traditional medicine and of medical practitioners in remote areas of the world is well documented by anthropological studies. However, the social, cultural, and environmental factors influencing health and traditional health systems have been analyzed separately, ignoring the interlinkages existing between them and the resulting synergies as well as the impact these will have on the multiple aspects of local communities. This case study attempts to overcome this shortcoming, by investigating the interrelationships between biodiversity conservation and the practice of ethnomedicine in Southern India as a basis to implement primary health care, enhance local livelihoods, and contribute to poverty alleviation through community-based entrepreneurial activities.

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