It will no longer be business as usual for anyone found practicing any form of health care delivery without a license in Lagos state.
The Lagos State Government warns that anybody found culpable will be sanctioned and brought before the court for appropriate adjudication.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the warning at the celebration of the Year 2022 African Traditional Medicine Day held on Thursday at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, this year’s celebration was organised by Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) and the theme: “Two Decades of African Traditional Medicine Day: Progress Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who represented the governor said it was important for traditional medicine practioners not to practice out of their scope in order not to risk the lives of those they are treating.
He decried the high rate of quackery, traditional medicine hawkers and concoction mixers stating that it posed a serious health risk to the community.
According to him, traditional medicine must be regulated for proper restructuring, regulation and accreditations by the LSTMB so as to eliminate quackery in the health profession.
“Traditional medicine is important culturally, it is also important for our people and the benefits that can be derived from the use of drugs, acupuncture, aromatherapy and other alternative medicine is commendable
“Everybody has a value as long as you are trained, have a license and accredited to practice in your respective discipline.
“It is not acceptable for anyone to be treating anybody without a license either a traditional complimentary or alternative medicine license or a conventional medicine license.
“If caught practicing any form of health care delivery without an appropriate license, you will be sanctioned and brought before the court of law for appropriate adjudication,” he said.
The governor commended LSTMB for carrying out trainings, clinical trials and toxicology noting that it helps to know the appropriate dose and measurements.
He said: “When you take a drug, you must know the measurements to take, how to use the dose and you must have been able to perform medical trials on the particular medication.
“If you are found to be without all these attributes, you are really treading on a dangerous terrain.
“Therefore, traditional medicine practioners should collaborate with scientists so as to prove that their practice is statistically sound,”
According to him, government is willing to be committed to the growth and development of traditional medicine.
Sanwo-Olu advised the traditional medicine practioners to team up with the Conventional Medicine Practioners in order to know how their practice could be validated.
On his part, Mr Olorunkemi Kadiku, the Registrar, LSTMB, assured that the board would continue to put in place an enduring policy and regulatory frameworks.
“We will tap into the recent call by the State Ministry of Health for expression of interest for grants for health research and continuously revitalize our mandatory training programmes for traditional medicine practitioners to enhance their capacities.
