Tanzania and India Sign Historic Agreement to Advance Traditional Medicine
Dar es Salaam – Tanzania and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at developing, promoting, and protecting traditional medicine within legal and digital frameworks. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has welcomed this landmark agreement.
The East African nation has also extended an invitation to global investors to participate in its pharmaceutical sector, guaranteeing a favorable business environment.
Health Minister Mohammed Mchengerwa announced that the agreement, witnessed by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, will establish legal protections for traditional medicine practices.
"We believe that traditional medicine, when legally safeguarded, strengthened by science, enabled by technology, and managed with a commercial outlook, can be a key pillar in building healthier societies globally," the minister stated.
Traditional Medicine’s Critical Role in Healthcare
Traditional medicine serves as a vital component of primary healthcare in Tanzania, with approximately 60 percent of citizens consulting traditional healers either alongside or before seeking modern hospital care.
"This reality shows that scientific evidence is not optional but essential," Mchengerwa emphasized.
The minister expressed full support for WHO’s 2025–2034 Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine, particularly regarding building evidence on safety, efficacy, and quality. Priority will be given to community-based, cost-effective research in collaboration with government research institutions, laboratories, and universities.
Strong Legal Framework
Tanzania maintains a robust legal foundation for traditional medicine under the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act No. 23 of 2002, enforced by the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Council. The country continues strengthening institutions including the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA), and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR).
"The aim is to professionalise traditional medicine while aligning it with international standards of quality and safety," Mchengerwa explained.
Integration into Formal Healthcare
Tanzania is committed to incorporating traditional medicine into primary healthcare to support universal health coverage. Services are currently provided in official hospitals, with 27 verified traditional medicine products used to treat both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The government’s strategy includes developing a national curriculum on traditional medicine, training programs for modern and traditional healthcare practitioners, and fostering collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare providers.
Economic Growth and Innovation
Traditional medicine serves as a catalyst for innovation and economic development. Currently, 141 traditional medicine products are registered in Tanzania, with over 90 percent produced by local small-scale entrepreneurs under the Health Sector Strategic Plan.
Tanzania is promoting public-private partnerships to strengthen cultivation, processing, manufacturing, quality control, market access, and exports of medicinal plants.
"Investment in technology transfer and innovation is welcome to ensure Tanzanian traditional medicine products meet international market standards," the minister added, emphasizing that ethical practices, knowledge preservation, and fair benefit-sharing remain essential priorities.
Future Outlook
The minister engaged in discussions with pharmaceutical investors during the signing ceremony to attract comprehensive investment to Tanzania’s traditional medicine sector.
The agreement emphasizes protecting intellectual property and traditional knowledge while leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies to safeguard, validate, and preserve traditional medicine practices. The framework ensures technology complements rather than replaces traditional healers, enhancing and protecting their expertise.
