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Supply of medicinal herbs unable to meet ever increasing demand

Supply of medicinal herbs unable to meet ever increasing demand

 

According to a new research by an NGO, named Health Systems Trust, the progress in the orthodox medicine industry in South Africa is being thwarted by a decline in growth of medicinal plants. The study which was published this month, also deduced that widespread unemployment, fast pace of urbanization and prevalence of HIV and AIDS among people have led to a spurt of demand boom for traditional medicines. The researchers opined,

Many customers report that they choose to use traditional healers as they feel the treatment is more holistic than western medicine.

The study also elucidate on the fact that consumers generally prefer the dual effect of “spiritual and physiological treatment” by the conventional medicines. It is estimated that the conventional medicine industry of South Africa is worth 2.9 billion rand which amounts to approximately 415 million USD. It also constitutes around 5.6% of the nation’s total health budget. The research indicated that around 133,000 households in the country depend on the business of wild medicinal tress for their livelihood. The bulk of people who have the occupation of harvesting these medicinal plants are rural women, who nourish their families with the money made out of selling these plants. The research predicted a gloomy future for these traditional plants as it pointed out that by harvesting at least 86% of the plant species, the complete plant will die.


The supposedly extinct species of one such wild medicinal plant is the African Wild Ginger. The researchers have also suggested few convenient and rational measures to help avoid the emergency situation. The impending crisis can be faced by improving the mode and extent of communication among the participants in the industry. Subsequently, the authors of the study recommend formulation of a premeditated and strategic vision for the dying medicine industry, which still has high potential to support thousands of households. Additionally, they have suggested various approaches to uphold usage of advanced scientific technology in the areas of harvesting, farming, storage, packaging, dosage and treatment. The chairman of the National Professional Association of Traditional Healers in South Africa, Sazi Mhlongo, told SciDev.Net,

We are holding meetings with role players to discuss the building of warehouses in Johannesburg and Durban where herbs can be packaged and sold on to traditional healers…There are also plans to register traditional healers and plant gatherers to ensure better control.

Whether this research study revelations and the following preventive measures suggested by the authors will benefit the sick industry and will again revive and sustain it back to its original path of prosperity, is yet to be seen.

Source:enn

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