Medical Witch Doctors?!

           

Recently, Nigeria's Minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed that plans were underway to integrate traditional medicine practice into the medical school curriculum.

This much-awaited little piece of information was dropped during a courtesy visit by the new executive and board of fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on the minister.

This was when he took the time to announce that the rising abuse of codeine syrup, especially in the northern part of the country, had prompted government to take drastic steps to regulate the drug, making it a narcotic only to be sold over the counter.

Chukwu, however, hinged the veiled official recognition of herbal medicine on the need for practitioners to go to medical school to equip themselves with the requisite expert knowledge.

While assuring that he would continue to support the pharmaceutical society in his official capacity, he called on herbal medicine practitioners to always lay emphasis on diagnosis before prescribing drugs to their patients.

He also said their drugs should be registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and packaged for export to earn money for the country.

News Source: ThisDay

It's true that traditional medical practitioners have for a long time been clamoring for recognition from the government for their trade, and now that it seems their prayers have been answered, they'll have to go back to school.

Not too sure how they'll handle this, but they asked for it.

The saying, "Be careful what you ask for", has never been more apt.

But let's look at the positive sides: The orthodox medical students in the schools will have a chance to experiment with new herbal remedies for a  chance to bring out a cure for other more troublesome diseases.

. . . If the trado-medical practitioners are willing to share.

This could also be a chance for government to take advantage of what the trado-med guys know, and set up research institutes which cater specifically for government sponsored and controlled research into these cures and more.

It could open up a new vista for medical practice in Nigeria.

NO MORE DISEASES AND DEATHS IN THE NATION!!!

OK, maybe I'm over-reaching. . . but there's no doubting that this new measure could give us the much-needed boost in the medical sector.

We just hope both parties are willing to give a little in order to make this work.

One thing bothers me though: Why do government officials always announce pertinent policy decisions during courtesy visits, luncheons, seminars, gatherings and the likes.

Whatever happened to a well planned press briefing where the stakeholders are called together and a break-down of the policy plan and implementation is announced. . .

. . . If the government truly means well.

Just saying, is all.