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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Stakeholders in Traditional, Complementary and Natural Health Resources (TCAM) in Nigeria have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to upgrade the current Department of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to a fully independent ministry.
The appeal was made on Sunday via a communique issued at the close of TCAM’s South-South region conference on the movement for a dedicated ministry, held in Benin, Edo State.
Signed by Prof Adedamola Bank Kadejo (Convener), Prof Joseph Akpile (South-South TCAM leader), Prof Baba Ejiga, Prof Anastasia Ndidiamaka, and Dr James Iwowarri, the communique acknowledged Tinubu’s innovative reforms, such as the creation of the Ministry of Blue Economy. Stakeholders noted that countries like India have established stand-alone TCAM ministries, which contribute significantly to their economies.
Directing their appeal to President Tinubu, the communique stated:
“We, the entire body of Conferences of Traditional, Complementary, and Natural Health Resources (TCAM) stakeholders, respectfully appeal for the creation of an independent Ministry of Traditional, Complementary, and Natural Health Resources Development, separate from the current Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“Your visionary leadership has already brought innovative reforms, as seen in the creation of the Ministry of Blue Economy, the Ministry of Livestock, and the Ministry of Regional Development—initiatives yielding positive results.
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“In this same spirit, we seek your support for a stand-alone ministry to ensure proper regulation, research, and development of TCAM, promote collaboration with mainstream medicine, and bolster Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings through herbal exports.”
The proposed ministry, they argued, would also:
Promote advanced research in TCAM
Complement the existing healthcare system
Regulate and standardise TCAM practice
Coordinate agencies nationally and regionally
Provide affordable, accessible alternative healthcare
Enhance collaboration between mainstream and TCAM practitioners
Generate jobs and boost economic growth
Supervising and collaborating agencies listed for the new ministry include the TCAM Council, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, relevant university faculties, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, National Biotechnology Center (Abuja), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, and proposed centres dedicated to traditional and integrative medicine.
The communique concluded, “Housing this vital sector under the Ministry of Health has not yielded the desired results. A dedicated ministry will reposition TCAM for optimal contribution to national health and economic development.”
