THE REGULATION AND APPLICATION OF TRADITIONAL AFRICAN MEDICINE IN SOUTH AFRICA

PA CARSTENS;

Abstract

Tis presentation will explore the regulation and application of traditional African medicine in South Africa. Te nature, scope, legitimacy and recognition of traditional African medicine together with the role of the
traditional health practitioner or healer in South Africa will be contrasted to so called western medicine and the role of medical practitioners generally accepted and recognized in South Africa and the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Te content of and access to traditional African medicine in South Africa will also be explored. Of particular signifcance to access to health care and the science of health care in South Africa are constitutional, professional and ethical considerations and these will be explored and canvassed with reference to the recent controversial Traditional Practitioners Act and constitutional challenges to this Act by a group consisting of mainly western-trained doctors called Doctors for Life. It will be argued that the recognition and legitimizing of traditional African medicine and traditional health practitioners will pose signifcant challenges to the application and regulation of health law/medical law in South Africa.