Unpacking the new proposed regulations for South African traditional health practitioners

Abstract

South Africa (SA) has legislation that regulates almost all of its healthcare systems. The Traditional Health Practitoners Act finally provides legitimisation of an overwhelmingly popular indigenous healthcare system. However, as a consequence of the legal acknowledgement of traditional health practitioners, traditional medicine products must now also be brought under regulatory measures. If traditional medicines are to be prescribed, marketed and sold as part of a healthcare system recognised under SA law, they must meet the same stringent standards.