Enugu — The Federal Government yesterday foreclosed the possibility of integrating traditional and herbal medicines into the nation's health system, insisting that though its efficacy had received global acclaim, the secrecy by practitioners and the absence of a well coordinated approach to their activities had remained a drawback to its recognition by government.

The government specifically identified long period of usage of herbal medicines without proper documentation and control, inadequate production and evaluation facilities for indigenous manufacturers, unsubstantiated claims by traditional medicines practitioners as well as inadequate research and development as part of the problems hindering the practice of traditional medicine as well as its recognition by government.

Speaking during a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Pax-Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, in Enugu, both the Minister of health, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin and Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC], Paul Orhii noted that until the secrecy surrounding its practice was cleared, government would not consider integrating it into the health system.

Despite the inroad traditional and herbal medicine have made in the country in view of its potency and affordability, the government officials maintained that the inability of the practitioners to effectively disclose the actual contents of their products, inadequate intellectual property rights laws and legislations have affected its integration in the health system of the country.

The minister observed that traditional and herbal medicines have continued to gain ground as a result of the high cost of orthodox medicines, said however, that the practitioners in the country have failed to utilize the opportunity by their difficulty in determining the active substances and toxic components of the herbal preparations.

"The age of secrecy in herbal medicine is fast fading away, as government is taking the issue of patent and property right, seriously. It is therefore important that investors/practitioners take necessary steps to document their products not only to guard against patent violation but for posterity in favour of generations to come. Ensure your products are dully registered with all relevant government agencies. This will foster confidence and hence patronage both locally and internationally," he stated.

Prof Osotimehin further disclosed that said that the federal government has taken various steps to institutionalize traditional medicine practice in the country, including creation of the Division of traditional medicine practice in the Food and Drugs Services Department of the Ministry of Health, publication of the yet to be launched Nigerian herbal Pharmacopoeia and inauguration of presidential initiative committee on the development, promotion and commercialization of Nigeria herbal medicine among others.

On his part, the Director General of NAFDAC, whose speech was read by the south east Zonal Head of the agency, Mr. Festus Anumba said that the agency, having recognized the long usage of herbal medicines decided to use acute toxicity tests as safety parameter for simple herbal preparations, while reserving efficacy tests, detailed analysis and clinical trials for more complex products intended for the management of terminal illnesses such as HIV/AIDS.

The NAFDAC boss further said that the entry of some highly educated Nigerians into production of herbal medicines, especially those with scientific background has improved the understanding of the need for regulation and control of the products to ensure their quality and safety. "Regulations and guidelines have been developed by NAFDAC to encourage manufacturers of herbal medicines to register their products in order to improve their acceptability," Orhii stated.

While advising practitioners to strictly abide by the traditional medicine policy recently launched by the government, the NAFDAC DG also pledged the agency's support in ensuring the listing/registration of quality, safe and efficacious herbal medicines to facilitate their integration,

Speaking earlier, the Director of Pax-Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, Rev Fr. Anselm Adodo, lamented that while other developed countries of the world were working towards perfection on herbal medicines, much emphasis was being paid to workshops than practical on how to herbal medicine could function in the country, stressing that the abundant roots and leaves existing in the country should be put to maximum use.

"Now that the efficacy and potency of the herbal medicines are being scientifically investigated, acknowledged and documented, the challenge for the Nigeria government is to work out policies that will regulate the herbal medicine sector. In doping this, the overriding interest must be how to integrate herbal medicine into the mainstream of national healthcare system, intellectual property rights protection for practitioners, and speedy passage of the traditional medicine bill and government support for documentation, standardization and protection of herbal plants from extinction due to human activities," he stated.

He further urged the practitioners to always guide against piracy and use the opportunity offered in the trade for the development of the country's economy.