To bridge the gap between traditional and modern healthcare, the Federal Government has inaugurated a Ministerial Committee on the Phytomedicine Value Chain, aimed at integrating traditional medicine into Nigeria’s mainstream health system and harnessing its economic potential.
The committee, inaugurated by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, is expected to lay the foundation for a robust phytomedicine industry that not only improves health outcomes but also contributes to rural development and national economic growth.
“This is not just a health policy; it is also a socio-economic policy,” Dr. Salako said during the inauguration in Abuja.
He said that the commercialisation of the phytomedicine value chain will create jobs in conservation, cultivation, harvesting of medicinal plants, and the local production of herbal medicinal products at an industrial scale.
The initiative is aligned with the government’s broader goals of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), economic diversification, job creation, and wealth generation.
Dr. Salako emphasised that Nigeria’s vast biodiversity and long-standing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants present a strategic opportunity to position the country within the growing global herbal medicine market.
“This will ensure Nigeria’s participation in the fast-growing global market for herbal medicinal products and contribute meaningfully to our national economy,” he added.
The newly constituted committee is chaired by the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr. Obi Adigwe, who reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to building a value chain that prioritises quality, safety, and efficacy in phytomedicine development.
The multi-sectoral committee includes representatives from government agencies, the private sector, traditional and natural medicine practitioners, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
Its terms of reference include developing a framework for commercialisation, identifying high-potential phytomedicinal products, proposing policy and regulatory reforms, fostering capacity building, and recommending sustainable investment models.
It will also ensure that the initiative aligns with national health strategies and global best practices in traditional medicine, particularly WHO guidelines.
