TCAM

TRADITIONAL, COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE DEPARTMENT

The Department came into being following the approval by The Head of Service in a Letter OHCSF/MSO/72/IV/132 dated 4th April, 2018. The activities of the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Department commenced fully in July, 2018.

Mandate

• To develop, implement, review and monitor compliance of policies and initiate legislation relating to Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines as well as provide related services.
• To promote the Development and Commercialization of indigenous Nigerian Traditional Medicine.
• iii. To integrate Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines into the National Healthcare System

Vision:

To see the practice of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Nigeria become a respected mode of treatment, preserving cultural heritage with respectable practitioners and providers, delivering quality health care to all Nigerians, and a situation in which the economic potentials of Traditional Medicines are also actualized to the benefit of all.

Mission:

To create a conducive environment for the development of Traditional, complementary and alternative medicines for national health system development and economic benefits.

Divisions

The Department has four (4) Divisions namely:

1. Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP)
2. Complementary and Alternative Medicines Practice (CAMP).
3. Herbal Product, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Production and Commercialization (HCAM- P & C).
4. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Research and Development (TCAM – R & D).

Staff Strength

The Staff strength of Department cuts across various Carders including: Pharmacists; Administrative Officers, Scientific Officers, Data Processing Officer, Executives Officers.

FUNCTIONS OF DIVISIONS IN TCAM DEPARTMENT

Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP)

• Develop proper mechanism for the regulation of Traditional Medicine Practices in collaboration with TCAM Council.
• Collaborate with TCAMCN in developing training guidelines for the Country’s most used TM therapies.
• Strengthen co-operation between TM providers and other healthcare providers.
• Liaise with the TCAMCN, State Boards and Committees and Local Government on TM Practice.
• Supervise the Traditional Medicine Council and Agencies.
• Development, review and implementation of National policies on Traditional Medicine healthcare services.
• Provide reliable information to consumers on proper use of available TM therapies and products
• Ensure protection of TM knowledge through appropriate legislation; collaboration with FMITI, FMST and other relevant MDA’s on development of user-friendly manual /guidelines/policy on IPK/TMK.
• Training of TMP’s on IPR-TMK manual in six geo-political zones of the Country.
• Regular evaluation and monitoring of standardized TM hospitals including Public and private facilities.

Complementary and Alternative Medicines Practice (CAMP).

• Development, review and implementation of National policies on complementary & Alternative Medicines healthcare services.
• Regular evaluation and monitoring of standardized TM hospitals in both private and public facilities.
• Liaise with TCAMCN, State Boards and Committees and Local Governments.
• Strengthen co-operation between CAM providers and other healthcare providers.
• Develop proper mechanism for registration of CAM therapeutic products in collaboration with TCAMCN.
• Development of National Essential List of Complementary & Alternative Medicines.
• Collaborations with relevant MDA’s, international and local organizations.

Herbal Product, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Production and Commercialization (HCAM- P & C).

• Encourage local commercial production and marketing of standardized TCAM.
• Liaise with TMP and CAP divisions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and Agencies in the development of a proper mechanism for registering Herbal, Complementary & Alternative medicine products.
• Collaborate with NAFDAC, SON and other regulatory bodies on formulation of policy/ Assessment of standards of Nigerian herbs.
• Responsible to the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council (TCAMCN) while liaising with TCAMCN, State Board and Committees and Local Government respectively.
• Promote cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants, complementary and Alternative therapies to ensure their sustainable use.
• Collaboration with NNMDA, NOTAP and RMRDC on Nigerian Herbs and its development.
• Collaboration with relevant MDA’s, international and local organizations.

Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Research and Development (TCAM – R & D).

• Development, circulation, and review of Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
• Development of National Compendium of Medicinal substances of natural origin, complementary and alternative therapies and its subsequent review.
• Liaising with Research Institutes and Universities dedicated to research and development of Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicines.
• Assessment of claims on Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicines treatment of some priority diseases e.g HIV/AID’s, Malaria, Diabetes, Hypertension, Tuberculosis, Cancer, Fibroid, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Asthma.
• Development of National Standards and technical guidelines and methodology for evaluating safety, efficacy, and quality of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM).
• Development of a National Essential List of Herbal Medicine and CAM therapies in collaboration with relevant Stakeholders.
• Ensures protection of TCAM knowledge through appropriate legislation and collaboration with FMITI, FMST and other relevant MDA’s on development of user-friendly manual/guidelines/policy on IPR-TMK.
• Collaboration with relevant MDA’s, International, Regional and Local Organizations.