Many Roots, One Law

Under the leadership of the World Health Organization and the Organization of African Unity, African states have been led to develop national policies to regulate the practice of traditional medicine. In Côte d’Ivoire, the vote of the law of 16 July 2015 represents an important step for the recognition and integration of practitioners of traditional medicine in the health system. The National Program for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine in Abidjan is responsible for this sector, it is also the institutional place where bureaucrats and traditional therapists meet. In the global market for natural medicines, herbal medicines and dietary supplements, practitioners of traditional medicines face many challenges: controlling their practices, protecting their knowledge, supplying a standardized product of their traditional medicines and increase their knowledge during trainings.