Traditional medicine has transitioned from the periphery to the core of Africa’s health systems, serving as a cornerstone for improving healthcare accessibility.
Hiba Boujnah, Head of Global Strategy and Partnerships and WHO Collaborating Centre Coordinator at Charité Competence Centre for Traditional and Integrative Medicine in Berlin, emphasizes that traditional medicine continues to be an essential aspect of health and wellness throughout Africa, often serving as the initial healthcare contact for numerous communities.
She stated, “There is no question that traditional medicine significantly contributes to enhancing primary healthcare, which is vital for attaining universal health coverage.”
Her comments established the framework for the World Health Summit WHO Regional Meeting on Traditional Medicine 2026, which took place in Nairobi between April 27 and 29.
Convened under the theme “Reimagining Africa’s Health Systems: Innovation, Integration, and Interdependence,” the gathering united policy makers and healthcare professionals to explore the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into national healthcare frameworks.
Progress is underway, as 12 African nations have pledged to incorporate traditional medicine within the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy, following commitments established at the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit.
Boujnah noted that the discourse has evolved from acknowledgment to practical application.
She explained, “The focus has shifted from questioning the relevance of traditional medicine to determining how to implement it safely, based on evidence, and in a manner that can be expanded across populations.”
Bruce Mbedzi, Director of Traditional Medicine at South Africa’s National Department of Health, reported that his nation is developing policy structures for this purpose.
He stated, “Our participation in the Global Summit in India resulted in several commitments, with the most significant being the completion of policies that will integrate traditional medicines into the national healthcare infrastructure.”
Mbedzi clarified that South Africa favors a parallel approach to healthcare integration.
He added, “We employ the term inclusion… as we advocate for the concurrent operation of both healthcare systems.”
Specialists highlight that traditional medicine already serves a vital function across the continent, particularly in rural and underserved regions where conventional healthcare access continues to be restricted.
Fiona Njeri, a community researcher, herbalist, and founder of Tremendous Organics in Kenya, noted the visible impact of traditional medicine.
She explained, “Throughout Africa, traditional medicine operates as primary healthcare for numerous communities.”
On a global scale, approximately 80 percent of people utilize traditional and complementary medicines for their primary healthcare needs.
Amid escalating healthcare expenses, staffing deficiencies, and disparities in service availability, stakeholders suggest that incorporating traditional medicinewith guarantees of safety, quality, and responsibilitycould reinforce primary care systems and advance Africa toward universal health coverage.
The Nairobi gathering marks the first significant international forum on traditional medicine since the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit in New Delhi, where 27 nations12 of them Africanpledged to enhance governance, regulatory frameworks, research initiatives, and integration processes for traditional medicine.