Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 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 Medicines Department commenced fully in July 2018.

VISION

To see the practice of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Nigeria become respected modes of treatment, preserving our cultural heritage with respectable practitioners and providers, delivering quality healthcare to all Nigerians, and benefiting from their economic potentials. The establishment of a situation whereby conventional and Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners legally and freely render their services in parallel but in clear understanding of each other and in close collaboration of all levels of healthcare delivery system and providing the chance for the patience to make an informed choice.
MISSION

To create an environment conducive for the development of traditional complementary and alternative medicines for National health system development and economic benefits.
MANDATE

1. 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.
2.  
3. To promote the development and commercialization of indigenous Nigerian Traditional Medicine.
4.  
5. To integrate Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines into the National healthcare system.

The Department is made up of four Divisions as follows:

1. Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP).
2.  
3. Complementary and Alternative Medicines Practice (CAMP).
4.  
5. Herbal Product, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Production and Commercialization (HCAM- P & C).
6.  
7. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Research and Development

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISIONS

Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP) Division

1. Develop proper mechanism for the regulation of Traditional Medicine Practices in collaboration with TCAMCN Council.
2.  
3. Collaborate with TCAMCN in developing training guidelines for the country’s most commonly used TM therapies.
4.  
5. Strengthen co-operation between TM providers and other healthcare providers.
6.  
7. Liaise with the TCAMCN, State Boards and Committees and Local Government on TM Practice.
8.  
9. Supervise Traditional Medicine Council and Agencies.
10.  
11. Development, review and implementation of National policies on Traditional Medicine healthcare services.
12.  
13. Provide reliable information to consumers on proper use of available TM therapies and products.
14.  
15. 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 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Traditional Medicine Knowledge (TMK).
16.  
17. Training of TMPs on IPR-TMK manual in six geo-political zones of the country.
18.  
19. Regular evaluation and monitoring of standardized TM hospitals including Public and private facilities.

Complementary & Alternative Medicine Division

1. Development, review and implementation of National policies on complementary & Alternative Medicines healthcare services.
2.  
3. Regular evaluation and monitoring of standardized TCAM hospitals in both private and public facilities.
4.  
5. Liaise with TCAMCN, State Boards and Committees and Local Governments.
6.  
7. Strengthen co-operation between CAM providers and other healthcare providers.
8.  
9. Develop proper mechanism for registration of CAM therapeutic products in collaboration with TCAMCN.
10.  
11. Development of National Essential List of Complementary & Alternative Medicines.
12.  
13. Collaborations with relevant MDA’s, international and local organizations.

Herbal Product, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Production and Commercialization

1. Encourage local commercial production and marketing of standardized TCAM.
2.  
3. 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.
4.  
5. Collaborate with NAFDAC, SON and other regulatory bodies on formulation of policy/ assessment of standards of Nigerian herbs.
6.  
7. Responsible to the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council (TCAMCN) while liaising with TCAMCN, State Board and Committees and Local Government respectively.
8.  
9. Promote cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants, complementary and Alternative therapies to ensure their sustainable use.
10.  
11. Collaboration with NNMDA, NOTAP and RMRDC on Nigerian Herbs and its development.
12.  
13. Collaboration with relevant MDA’s, international and local organizations.

Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research and Development Programmes

1. Development, formulation, review and dissemination of Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
2.  
3. Development of National Compendium of Medicinal substances of natural origin, complementary and alternative therapies and its subsequent review.
4.  
5. 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.
6.  
7. 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.
8.  
9. Ensure protection of TCAM knowledge through appropriate legislation and collaboration with other relevant MDA’s on development of user-friendly manual/guidelines/policy on IPR-TMK.
10.  
11. Collaboration with relevant MDA’s, international, regional and local organisation

For further information contact the address of the Department. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Department, 10^th Floor, Federal Ministry of Health.

HEAD,TRADITIONAL, COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Pharm. (Mrs.) Zainab U Shariff

Pharm. (Mrs.) Zainab U Shariff, FPSN is the Head of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines Department (TCAMD).

She is a trained Pharmacist with professional career sparing over 30 years in the field of Hospital and administration.

Pioneer Head of Traditional Medicine Development Division in 2009 and Managing Director of Nigerian Medicinal Plants Development Company (2008-2014).

A strong advocate of TCAM, with knowledge and training both in medicinal plants and run a program on NTA called Nature Pharmacy.

She is the current Head of the new Department.