Hospitals could soon employ traditional healers

The health minister met traditional practitioners today to discuss the draft national policy

State hospitals could be required by law, in future, to employ the services of traditional healers. That is according to Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

The Minister met traditional practitioners today to discuss the draft national policy that will regulate their profession.

The Traditional Health Practitioners Act was passed in 2005. The aim is to integrate traditional healing into the mainstream health system. But traditional healers say it’s taking too long. They were assured today that the process will be speeded up.

Tshabalala-Msimang also said traditional medicines should not become "bogged down in clinical trials". She said she was not against clinical trials per se, but that South Africa could not use western protocols for research and development.

Studies conducted by the Medical Research Council show that between 70% - 80% of black people consult traditional practitioners. However, they say this is not reflected in the day-to-day running of state health facilities. Medical Aid schemes also do not recognise them.