According to the plan: "Raw medicinal plants, prescriptions and herbal medicines add up to a pharmaceutical industry worth R2.9-billion.

"A policy framework for how traditional medicine fits into the health sector is important. The Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007 provides for national policy on traditional medicine, but actual integration of traditional medicine into the national health care system and structured relationships with the pharmaceutical industry has been limited."

The Department of Health white paper for transforming the health system recognised the importance of traditional healers in primary healthcare.

The department's Joe Maila said: "We are trying to find the role of traditional medicine in the healthcare system. Aaron Motsoaledi is meeting with provincial representatives and trying to finalise the council. At this moment we cannot say whether traditional medicine will be available in pharmacies or not."

WHAT TRADITIONAL HEALERS SAY:

Nobathimbo Pantshwa said: "I prefer to be called a religious healer. But it would add support from people if we were regarded as professionals."

Themba Vakalisa said: "I don't agree with it. Other companies do not recognise the certificates we produce. The new legislation will limit the powers of traditional healers. They will also limit how much herbs we can collect."

Alice Mhlongo said: "I think it is a good thing because there are some diseases that some doctors cannot heal, like diabetes. I have herbs that can help cure diseases like these."

Comments

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Tue May 21 13:10:16 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 17, 2012

Papage

But they all look poor and frale, is the business not doing well maybe or they drink lots of this herbs? If herbs really help that much, then I should be looking at very good looking herberlists, they really look sick, mentally disturbed. Maybe is me thinking, look at Themba
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Aug 17, 2012

Nicholaster

@Papage, don't make fun of this guy lol
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Aug 17, 2012

Iphone5

stru Papage , i have never seen a shining /oily looking sangoma , they all looking dry and in pain , if u sell cars u should have a car yourself , they r healing people but then the way they look , they need someone to help them
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Aug 17, 2012

BlackSeed

Do you expect these traditional healers to bleach themselves and look like plastics too? Ageing is inevitable and whoever fights it fights against themselves.

Traditional healers were there and will always be there, whether good or bad, just like civilized Doctors.

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Aug 17, 2012

Flemza

A good idea I can`t wait to make money from selling traditional medicine (vusa nkonzi) now I can put this in my phamarcy all the men will love it
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Aug 17, 2012

Shredder

Nkunzi
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Aug 17, 2012

MommaC

With all due respect, they can't keep track of the hong fong doctors and the qualified doctors in the system at the moment so how are they going to monitor the traditional 'doctors' as well?

Why do we have a Traditional Healers Council?
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Aug 17, 2012

Papage

My grany is one
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Aug 17, 2012

Papage

I still fail to see the logis, we have so many healers and yet so many people are sick and die.
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Aug 18, 2012

paterfamilias

imagine heading to Link to buy SEMONOKWANE, nw thats a funny site.
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