Kudos PMB for traditional, alternative medicine bill

We, the All Nigeria Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ANTCAM) practitioners, wish to hail the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s efforts to uplift the practice of traditional and alternative medicine by the approval of the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Council Establishment bill.

In a bid to strengthen the practice of alternative medicine in Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved a bill for the establishment of the Council for Traditional, Alternative and Complementary Medicine Practice in the country, we, therefore, wish to also stress the need to fund researches in traditional complementary and alternative medicine in Nigeria.

We also hail the passage of the FEDCAM bill’s second reading, which awaits public hearing at the Senate and wish to call on the federal government to promote and encourage the development of traditional complementary and alternative medicine at the state and local government levels.

There is an urgent need for the establishment of traditional complementary and alternative medicine specialist hospitals and departments in the six geopolitical zones and 36 states of the federation.

There is also an urgent need for official recognition and acceptance of traditional complementary and alternative medicine as a form of the healthcare system in Nigeria at the federal, state and local government levels. Similarly, there is a need for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training for Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners locally and internationally.

Prof. Adewale Baderinwa Sunday, All Nigeria Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ANTCAM)