ABSTRACT
Despite the growing consumers, African Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine (AT/CAM) is at the crossroads of competences and responsibilities of being integrated and implemented into primary healthcare delivery system in most African countries. A systematic review was undertaken using web knowledge and national health policy programs to gather relevant information till December 2014. The objective was to overview the regional policy and regulations of AT/CAM for attaining sustainable optimal potential of safe and effective practices in primary healthcare.
A total of 78.26% (36/46) countries in the continent had formulated national policies, 45.65% (21/46) countries have developed legal frameworks for traditional medicine practice while 39.13% (18/46) have national codes of ethics to enhance the safety, efficacy, and quality of services provided to patients. Only 32.60% (15/46) had developed national strategic plans for implementation of their policies and national traditional medicine offices have been established in 84.78% (39/46) countries. Twenty-four (56.17%) countries have traditional medicine programs in their ministries of health, and have established national expert committees to support the development and implementation of policies, strategies, and plans but challenged by the high levels of fragmentation within the system, and inappropriate financial incentives for providers are to blame for the relatively low health care value.
The paper highlights integrated health system mechanisms and delivery approaches in optimizing the benefits of African traditional medicine in alleviating public health burden, and improving primary healthcare system and health system research through intense communication between researchers, policy makers, and policy implementers in Africa.
