1. TRADITIONAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS’ BILL
BRIEFING BY NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICES
Date: 7 OCTOBER 2004
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2. 1998 PUBLIC HEARINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
The Portfolio Committee on Health and the Select Committee of the NCOP made the following recommendations during the public hearings:
That there should be legal recognition of Traditional Healers as a Health resource
That an Interim Council be established which will be responsible for the regulation of the profession of Traditional Healing
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3. RECOMMENDATIONS BY PARLIAMENT
The Interim Council should report back to Parliament within (3) years, thereafter a permanent Council shall be constituted provided that they comply with the set conditions
That a Forum be set up before the Council is formed to:
Ensure that all stakeholders and associations are taken on board and
Unpack the complicated matter of training and accreditation and formulate a clear proposal
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4. Recommendations Continued
That Traditional Healing remains part of the private health care sector not formal sector at this stage
That the proposed categories of healers which the Interim Council will oversee should include the following:
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5. Recommendations Continued
Inyanga (Herbalist or Traditional doctor)
Sangoma (Diviners)
Traditional Birth Attendants (Ababelekisi)
Traditional surgeons ( Iingcibi)
Abathandazi were excluded because:
They are not traditional in nature
Training and accreditation will be difficult
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6. PROPOSED FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERIM COUNCIL
Registration of all qualifying traditional healers
Promotion of training, research and professionalism in the sector
Developing an ethical code of conduct and maintain discipline within the profession
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7. Interim Council functions Continued
Setting up norms and standards with regard to the practice of traditional healing, including regulating the issuing of medical certificates and tariff levels
Facilitate co-operation among traditional healers,medical professionals and the government
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8. Interim Council functions Continued
Research and creation of a database; and
Regulating anything incidental to traditional healing practice
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9. HIGHLISTS OF THE TRADITIONAL HEALER STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP: 18 JUNE 1999
The workshop was held at the then Boulevard Hotel in Pretoria
All 9 provinces were represented by four
Traditional Healers
Four (4) Health Professional Councils namely: SANC, HPCSA,SAPC and Allied Health Professions Council of SA made presentations regarding their organisational structures as well as financial matters
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10. 18 June Workshop continued
All councils committed themselves to share information which can assist in the establishment of the Traditional Healers’ Council
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11. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING HELD ON 20 FEBRUARY 2001
Objectives of the meeting were:
To highlight issues that were raised at the 1998 public hearings
To report back on the progress made by DOH
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12. Highlights (Feb 2001) continued
Taking the process forward following MINMEC meeting in September 2000, which endorsed the establishment of the Interim Council for Traditional Healers
Setting up of a forum which will have an input in the drafting of the Bill by the DOH
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13. TRADITIONAL HEALERS ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTED
Interim Coordinating Committee for Traditional Medical Practitioners (ICC)
South African Traditional Healers Federation
Traditional Healers of South Africa
Professional Traditional Healers Register of South Africa
Traditional Medical Practitioners and Spiritual Healers Organisation
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14. COMPOSITION OF THE FORUM AGREED UPON
Nine (9) Traditional Healers nominated by the Traditional Healer Provincial representatives
Five (5) nominated by the DOH
Total: 14
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15. ROLE OF NDOH ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BILL
The NDOH conducted provincial road shows to inform Traditional Healers and other stakeholders about the contents of the Bill
Presented to the Portfolio Committee in September 2002
Published the Bill on 11 April 2003 for a period of 3 months for public comments
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16. INPUT BY ORGANISATIONS
Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa
Eastern Cape Provincial Traditional Health Practitioners
Free State Traditional Practitioners Forum
Gauteng Traditional Health Practitioners Forum
Institute For Democracy in South Africa (IDASA)
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17. Continue Kwazulu-Natal Traditional Health Practitioners Forum
Northern Cape Traditional Practitioners Forum
Traditional Healers Organisation
South African Medical Association
Spiritual Healers groups
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18. TABLING OF THE BILL IN PARLIAMENT
Public Hearings were conducted by the Portfolio Committee in August 2004
The Bill was tabled and accepted by the National Assembly on 9 September 2004
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19. WAY FORWARD
The Department of Health will draft Regulations for the Traditional Health Practitioner’s Act which will make provision for constitution of the Interim Council in consultation with the Directorate: Human Resource Development
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20. WAY FORWARD CONTINUED
The Interim Council will be constituted according to the provisions of the Act and the Regulations
The Interim Council will consist of 22 members, appointed by the Minister in the following manner
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21. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL
Chairperson: a traditional healer appointed by the Minister
Vice-Chaiperson: elected by members of the Council amongst themselves
Nine Traditional Health Practitioners; one from each Province with more than five years of practice as a traditional healer
One employee of the Department of Health
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22. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL CONTINUED
One appointed on account of knowledge of Law
One Medical Practitioner who is a member of the HPCSA
One Pharmacist who is a member of the South African Pharmacy Council
Three Community Representatives
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23. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL CONTINUED
One Representative from each category of Traditional healers defined in the Act which are:
Herbalists: Iinyanga
Diviners: Sangoma
Traditional Birth Attendants: Ababelekisi
Traditional Surgeons: Iingcibi
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