UFS showcases traditional medicines research at WHO Summit
The World Health Organization opened its first summit on traditional medicine on Thursday, with the UFS exhibiting products and services at the summit.
The University of the Free State(UFS) Pharmacology Department showcased its traditional medicine research at the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit debut in India.
According to EWN, the World Health Organization opened its first summit on traditional medicine on Thursday, with the group saying it was seeking to collect evidence and data to allow for the safe use of such treatments.
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Prof. Motlalepula Matsabisa, an esteemed African traditional medicine specialist and Director of Pharmacology at UFS, spearheaded the effort. He joined the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit’s External Advisory Group.
UFS PROFESSOR PRESENTS INSIGHT ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINES
The UFS Professor held the role of co-chair at WHO’s Global Traditional Medicines Centre and chaired the WHO Regional Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicines for COVID-19. He presented insights during a session on ‘Regulations, intellectual property and implementation’ at the summit.
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The UFS professor was joined by Vusi Paul Ncume, a pharmacology master’s student and traditional health practitioner, and Tebogo Machethe, DRD’s Director for Innovation and Contracts.
UFS exhibits products and services at WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
— UFS (@UFSweb) August 15, 2023
📰: https://t.co/7jcDcHIa7D#UFSResearch | #WHOGCTM | #WHOGlobalSummitOnTM pic.twitter.com/jEhCA4G51D
Prof Matsabisa emphasised, “We will be exhibiting our laboratories and work undertaken in these laboratories.” Image- X @UFSweb.
Machethe’s involvement included a session on ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from Indigenous Knowledge’. Thobeka Kentane, an experienced traditional health practitioner with legal knowledge, also contributed.
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Kentane was part of the UFS Pharmacology working group headed by Prof. Matsabisa, focused on revising South Africa’s main medicines act and creating recommendations for a regulatory framework for traditional medicine production.
WHY TRADITIONAL MEDICINE?
Traditional medicine could boost healthcare “access gaps”, but was of value only if used “appropriately, effectively, and above all, safely based on the latest scientific evidence”, Tedros warned earlier.
The first-ever @WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, #India 🇮🇳, has begun! Stay tuned to this space for live updates. pic.twitter.com/IHbhsAZfUs
— World Health Organization South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) August 17, 2023
The two-day WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit takes place alongside a meeting of G20 health ministers in the Indian city of Gandhinagar.
Highlighting traditional medicine’s role in overall health and global economies is the main point.
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“I hope that the resolutions made at the August G20 will then be carried over by the next G20 Presidency,” said Prof Matsabisa.