Gathered in Yaounde for the 24th edition of African Traditional Medicine Day, stakeholders in the sector are calling for the swift adoption of the implementing decrees for the law governing traditional medicine. They say this step is essential to formalize the profession, regulate research and integrate traditional care into the Universal Health Coverage system.
On the occasion of the 24th edition of African Traditional Medicine Day, celebrated on August 31, 2026, at Independence Square in Yaounde, the atmosphere was both festive and marked by demands for change. On the esplanade, numerous practitioners from across the country displayed barks, balms and herbal teas to showcase their knowledge and expertise to the public.
Among them was Dr Ago’o A Ndong, a traditional medicine practitioner in her fifties from Bafia, who summed up the strategic shift currently taking place in her profession. “I am here to take part in the activities organized by the National Order of Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Cameroon. It is an opportunity for me to showcase the products I offer to my clients,” she explained.
After taking part in a scientific workshop at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS) of the University of Yaoundé I, the practitioner said she had understood the importance of modernizing her practice. “It made me realize that I need to have toxicity tests carried out on my products and, above all, have them certified in order to obtain some form of administrative protection. Today, I sell my products to visitors,” she said.
This drive towards greater regulation comes as traditional medicine remains widely used by the population, with 80% of people in rural areas reportedly turning to it as a first line of care. However, despite the historic enactment of Law No. 2024/018 of December 23, 2024, which integrates traditional therapies into the national health system, one major obstacle remains: the absence of implementing regulations.
An urgent regulatory gap to fill
At the exhibition site, stakeholders in the sector unanimously called for the institutional process to be accelerated so that their profession can emerge from its current precarious situation.
“I think that since a law was enacted on December 23, 2024, the implementing regulations now need to be issued. Traditional medicine practitioners should not have to depend on the ministry every day,” said Dr Gidiun Peliegho, Secretary General of the ad hoc committee responsible for the management of traditional medicine in Cameroon.
Pointing out that “traditional medicine is part of the third health subsector in Cameroon”, the official stressed the need “to give traditional medicine practitioners the opportunity to develop and operate independently so that there can be proper organization within the profession”. He nevertheless welcomed “the vision of the Head of State, which clearly demonstrates his commitment to liberalizing the sector”.
Five draft regulatory instruments, including decrees and ministerial orders, have already been prepared. They provide for the organization of the National Order, the allocation of a unique national identification number, the establishment of conditions for opening traditional care centers, the implementation of a strict code of ethics to combat quackery, as well as a capped pricing system adapted to the practitioners’ area of operation, whether urban, semi-urban or rural.
A major lever for Universal Health Coverage
For parliamentary representatives, establishing a clear legal framework is
inseparable from ensuring broader access to quality healthcare.
Hon. Dr Ronyl Temfack Vopé, Permanent Secretary of the Network of Parliamentarians for the Promotion of Health and Traditional Medicine (REPPROSAN), addressed the issue under the theme of “research and development efforts in traditional medicine for the implementation of Universal Health Coverage in the sub-region”.
He stressed that such an event cannot take place “without talking about pharmaceutical sovereignty” and highlighted the role of Improved Traditional Medicines (ITMs).
“Another strategic objective is to validate and register treatments in the country so that they can be reimbursed and covered under Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
According to the parliamentarian, Universal Health Coverage is a commitment aimed at ensuring that every citizen can access healthcare without facing financial hardship. Including standardized Improved Traditional Medicines among the essential medicines covered by the system, he argued, could provide direct support to the production chain, secure access to raw materials and help households across Cameroon.
Strengthening collaboration between researchers and traditional practitioners
Effective integration of traditional treatments also requires closer cooperation between traditional knowledge holders and practitioners of modern medicine.
Amid persistent complaints about the lack of bridges between the two fields, Hon. Dr Ronyl Temfack Vopé stressed the need to encourage practitioners to take part in university training programs. He noted, for instance, that only 30 stakeholders attended the training session organized this year at the FMBS.
He also pointed to what he described as occasional “neglect by stakeholders towards scientists”, which he said ultimately slows their own progress towards meeting regulatory requirements for professional practice.
According to the REPPROSAN Permanent Secretary, “collaboration is only possible if neither side denigrates the other’s profession, and if each understands their own limits, what they can and cannot do.”
He therefore advocates regulated professional autonomy, with administrative authorizations to practice issued by the Ministry of Public Health, alongside a cross-referral system allowing information and patients to be referred between
traditional practitioners and doctors at health district level.
Through research funding, education and the accelerated adoption of implementing regulations, Cameroon seeks to build a genuine national health partnership between traditional medicine and conventional healthcare.
