By John Mapepele, New Delhi
Minister for Health, Mr Mohamed Omary Mchengerwa, has called on the international community and global health stakeholders to collaborate with Tanzania in research, innovation, technology transfer and ethical trade in traditional medicine, saying the sector can be a key pillar for improved healthcare and sustainable economic development worldwide.
Mr Mchengerwa made the remarks today while presenting Tanzania’s experience during the third thematic session titled “Rethinking Health Systems for Equity, Safety and Resilience in the Area of Traditional Medicine” at the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, currently underway in New Delhi, India.
“Tanzania is transforming traditional medicine from a purely indigenous practice into an evidence-based, professionally regulated, digitally protected and economically productive health system. Currently, about 60 per cent of Tanzanians rely on traditional medicine, with more than 60,000 practitioners and over 2,000 facilities officially registered nationwide,” said the Minister.
He noted that the Government continues to prioritise affordable, community-based research, alongside verification of safety, quality and effectiveness of traditional medicine products. He added that Tanzania is implementing the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, emphasising that the country is not relaxing regulation of traditional medicine, but rather strengthening it through robust legal and institutional frameworks.
On the integration of traditional medicine into the national health system, Mr Mchengerwa said Tanzania has already begun offering traditional medicine services in health facilities. To date, 27 traditional medicine products have been incorporated into healthcare service delivery since 2023. He stressed that integration is not about competition, but collaboration aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage.
From an economic perspective, the Minister revealed that Tanzania has registered 141 traditional medicine products, more than 90 per cent of which are produced by small-scale local manufacturers. This, he said, contributes significantly to employment creation and economic growth. He added that the Government, through the Ministry of Health, continues to promote public-private partnerships, cultivation of medicinal plants, processing, and access to both domestic and international markets.
Mr Mchengerwa further underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and safeguarding indigenous knowledge of communities.
He highlighted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to document, validate and protect traditional medicine knowledge, noting that technology is not intended to replace traditional healers, but to enhance and preserve their wisdom.
The three-day summit is expected to conclude today and will be officially closed by Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, underscoring the high-level policy importance and global significance of the forum.
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