Parliament says Zimbabwe should allocate funds for research into traditional medicines in 2022 budget

4.4    Efforts that the MoHCC and MCAZ are making in the Development and Promotion of Traditional and Complementary Medicines in Zimbabwe

4.4.1 In his oral submission on 25th January 2021, Dr. Mudyiradima indicated that the MoHCC had not banned the use of some medicines which were perceived to be effective in addressing some COVID-19 symptoms. He stated that the MoHCC was willing to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to conduct research and assessment on some proposed conventional, traditional and complementary medicines to ascertain their efficacy. This he said, would be conducted under controlled environment where danger is carefully kept and harnessed in order to inform policy direction before the public can use the medicines.

4.4.2 During the oral evidence meeting held on 9th March 2021, Dr. Ndoro informed the Committee that the MoHCC had developed a draft monograph for lippie javanica (Zumbani) which Mr. Wekwete, confirmed that the MCAZ had approved in managing COVID-19 virus symptoms.

4.4. 3   Dr. Ndoro informed the Committee that clinical trials of Kembo Herbal Medicines believed to ameliorate COVID-19 symptoms were also conducted as well as an investigation of ionised water nebulisation to alleviate respiratory symptoms and hypixia in presumed and confirmed COVID-19 patients. Results of these trials were yet to be ascertained.

4.4.4 He also informed the Committee that MoHCC was in the process of developing a National Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Formularies to set out standards for herbal medicines as well as inclusion of traditional medicines into the essential drug list.

4.4.5 He further informed the Committee that the Government of Zimbabwe had stablised the Traditional and Complementary Medicines Institute at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in collaboration with the Chinese Government.

4.4.6    Regarding the process of registering medicines in Zimbabwe, Mr. Wekwete told the Committee that applicants should submit applications with a payment of a fee a of US200 or ZWL equivalent to the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). Thereafter, MCAZ Secretariat receives, receipts and evaluates and finally the Complementary Medicines Committee approves the product.     At the time of this enquiry, the MCAZ had registered 234 traditional and complementary medicines and only two (2) (less than 1%) were local herbs and these are Mukwa and Moringa Powder.

4.4.7 On infrastructure development for education and training and delivery of health services, Dr. Ndoro informed the Committee that the MoHCC intends to establish Public Health Institutions for Traditional Medicines in Zimbabwe. He added that to date, the MoHCC has established a Traditional Medicines Research Department at the National Institute of Health Research; developed curriculum for the training of the Traditional and Complementary Medical Practitioners and Integrated the Traditional and Complementary Medicines into the curriculum of Health Science Students at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

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