The Department of Health estimates that 80 percent of South Africans consult traditional
healers before consulting modern medicine. The aim of this study is to investigate the
extent of the use of traditional medicine in local communities in the Limpopo Province, and
add value to a draft policy that was introduced by the Minister of Health. (South Africa,
Department of Health 2007a)
Traditional healers are regarded as an important national health resource. They share the
same cultural beliefs and values as their patients. They are respected in their
communities. In South Africa, traditional healers have no formal recognition as health care
professionals.
Despite the advantages of modern medicine, there is a dramatic evolution in traditional
medicine developing and developed countries. In recognition of the value that traditional
medicine has added to people’s health needs, government organisations have realised the
gap and needed to embark on public participation to bring to light the solution, by
implementing a relevant policy (Matomela 2004).
According to research done by Pefile (2005), positive outcomes that resulted from the use
of traditional medicine include a more holistic treatment, a wider choice of health care that
suits people’s needs, and scientific advancement, this paves a way forward for a policy to
be put into place for the legal recognition of traditional medicine. New legislations have
been brought about in regulating traditional medicine and practitioners.
This paper provides a synopsis of government initiatives to close the gap and address the
concerns of integrating traditional and modern medicine. The thesis addresses the
challenges involved in incorporating the two disciplines for the best possible impact of
local communities in accessing their rights as vested in the constitution.
The study is a qualitative study where relevant practicing traditional healers, users,
Western doctors, nurses, managers and government policy makers were interviewed
regarding the draft policy on traditional medicine. This was to obtain information on the
challenges, gaps and possible solutions regarding the integration of African traditional
medicine into the health care system of Southern Africa. Findings show the following: a
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majority of traditional healers do not agree to scientific trialling and testing on the herbs
that they prescribe, and Western doctors feel that traditional healers should only treat
patients spiritually unless they have a scientifically tested scope and limitations on their
field. The study also found that traditional healers want to be registered and integrated
into the health care system, but do not agree to have regulated price fixing. Other
conclusions included that the communities seek traditional help for cultural reasons and
more benevolent purposes, but are changing their focus towards seeking medical help
from clinics where it is provided for them. However, people within the communities are
still confused whether to seek traditional or western medicine and therefore seek both. It
was found that medications are not readily available in district clinics and hospital waiting
times force people into seeking traditional help. Nurses, doctors and caregivers
acknowledge that traditional healers are hampering the health care of patients by delaying
hospital treatment of patients hence progressing illnesses. However, they also state that
traditional healers help people spiritually and mentally. Therefore policy makers have
found solutions to educate healers and create regulatory boards to limit and create a
scope of practice for traditional healers.