Home NEWS HEALTH Government’ll Not Hesitate To Use Big Stick On Erring Herbal Practitioners, Minister...

Government’ll Not Hesitate To Use Big Stick On Erring Herbal Practitioners, Minister Warns

Minister_of_Health,_Professor_Onyebuchi_Chukwu

Nigeria Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu has warned members of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) not to compromise ethical standards in the practice of their trade.

Receiving the executive members of the association in his office today, the Minister said that though government has created the enabling environment to encourage herbal medicine practice in the country, but that the government would not fail to use the big stick if any practitioner fails to observe the ethics of the profession.

He assured that the Government is not resting on its oars to make sure that herbal medicine in Nigeria is taken to the next level and at par with any herbal medicine in the world; adding that Nigeria will soon begin to export herbal medicine provided they are verified by NIPRD and registered as well as certified by NAFDAC.

On the issue of exporting herbal products to chart the way forward, he said that there is going to be a multi-sectoral approach, pointing out that the Government will soon put a body in place to drive that process.

Onyebuchi Chukwu stressed that Government will involve conventional doctors who are doing herbal medicine, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), NAFDAC and the Federal Ministries of Health, Science and Technology, Trade and Investment would be part of the process.

On the issue of efficacy and safety of the herbal products, the Minister charged the Traditional Medicine Practitioners not to leave anything to chance by making sure that the products have the necessary ingredients. He said that they should take the issue of storage of the medicine seriously by ensuring that they are not contaminated. Adding, they should comply strictly with standard guidelines and the issue of dosage should be strictly adhered to.He reaffirmed that the Government is determined more than ever before without sentiment or prejudice to encourage herbal medicine practice in Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Omon Oleabhele, noted that traditional medicine practice in Nigeria never had it so good like what it is witnessing in this present dispensation. [myad]

 

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