Herbalists oppose indigenous complementary bill

By Nicholas Kajoba

THE National Council for traditional healers and herbalists Association (NACOTHA) has petitioned Parliament to stay the passing of the  Indigenous and complementary medicine bill 2013, that seeks  to form a parallel regulatory council.

They said that there’s need to consult with (NACOTHA) members before the bill is tabled in parliament.

The Secretary General of NACOTHA, Karim Musaazi said at press briefing in Kampala that they have written several letters to parliament seeking the stay of the bill till all the stakeholders in the practice have been properly consulted.

The State Minister for Primary Health Care, Sarah Opendi last year said that a bill entitled The Indigenous and Complementary Medicines Bill 2013, had been by Cabinet and will provide a regulatory framework for traditional healers.

She said that the proposed bill, yet to be tabled in parliament provides acceptable standards for indigenous and complementary medicine.
 
The bill also seeks to establish a council responsible for the regulation of indigenous and complementary medicine practitioners, defining their roles registering and issuing them with license.

Musaazi said that the bill in its status does not clearly spell out people who practice indigenous and complimentary medicines.

“Here in Uganda we do not have any persons practicing indigenous and complimentary medicines instead we have people practicing traditional medicine,” he said.

He said that the there is no need to create another council for herbalists and traditional healers because there’s already an existing one NACOTHA.

Musaazi said that the creation of another council would mean that there would be two existing councils governing traditionalists and herbalists in the country.

“The creation of another council would create confusion among herbalists and traditionalists,” he said.

NACOTHA is an umbrella Non-Governmental organization for Traditional Healers and Herbalists Associations in the country.

The Council formed twenty six years ago with over 159 herbalists and traditionalists Associations unites, promotes and seek government support and promote the development of utilization of traditional medicine healing practice.

RELATED ARTICLES

Herbalists want law to regulate their work

NDA arrests quack traditional herbalists

Govt told to vet pastors, herbalists