Herbalists ordered to register clinics, drugs.
Alternative health practitioners in big cities, municipal councils and towns have until April 15 to have their herbal clinics registered, while those staying in villages have been given six months beginning January 15.
Any medication administered to people should receive approval from agents of the Chief Government Chemist and Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA), according to the public notice issued by the Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu.
According to the minister, no one will be allowed to offer any services without undergoing proper registration procedures and that all alternative health practitioners will not be allowed to offer traditional medicine without approval from AHPCT.
The minister has also banned all public advertisements on herbal medicine through the media that are not approved by the council beginning January 15 this year.
“The ministry would like to remind the media especially all Television and Radio stations as well as newspapers to adhere to the law regulating alternative health practitioners that prohibits all advertisement that are yet to receive approval from the council,” reads the notice in part.
The ministry has also banned any form of education on herbal clinics through the media or public rallies and that no traditional healer will be allowed to use any equipment that has not been approved by TFDA.
The ban comes amid concerns that most patients who have been visiting herbal clinics are being subjected to questionable diagnostic equipment.
The prohibition order of tradition medicine by alternative health practitioners issued by Ms Mwalimu follows the recent impromptu tour at one of the traditional healers, Mr Juma Mwaka and a thorough analysis by the ministry.
With this ban, the government will carry out inspection of all herbs and machines that practitioners use for diagnosis of their patients.
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