Adama, Ethiopia – The 2025 National Traditional Medicine Scientific Conference, held under the theme “Towards Evidence Based Integration,” concluded recently in Adama. The conference was a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), drawing a wide array of participants including senior leaders, officials, and researchers from both organizing bodies, traditional medicine experts, health bureau officials and experts from regional and city administrations, representatives from higher education institutions, and various federal and regional government bodies.
The primary objective of the conference was to foster a collaborative environment for national efforts, aiming to bridge the gap between ancestral wisdom in traditional medicine and modern scientific methodologies. Discussions focused on how to effectively integrate these two domains. A key outcome expected from the conference is the increased availability of Ethiopian traditional medicines, prepared from indigenous plants, for community use.
Health development is a significant focus area within Ethiopia’s indigenous economic reform agenda and national development plan. A core direction for health development over the next decade involves strengthening traditional medicine services and ensuring their national-level integration with modern medical practices.
Professor Afework Kasu, Director General of AHRI, emphasized the critical importance of research, development, and related activities in traditional medicine. He highlighted Ethiopian indigenous knowledge as a fundamental pillar, with traditional medicine playing a substantial role within this foundation. Professor Afework elaborated on the extensive and remarkable knowledge accumulated by ancient Ethiopians in adapting to their environment and preventing diseases caused by various organisms. This rich knowledge, he noted, has been diligently passed down through generations, with many Ethiopians continuing to benefit from traditional medicine today.
Ms. Sameera Sultan, State Representative for Resource Management and Control at the Ministry of Health, acknowledged promising strides in improving traditional medicine. However, she pointed out that despite over 80% of the population utilizing traditional medicine, and its deep roots in various cultural beliefs and practices within Ethiopian society, the nation has not fully capitalized on its health and economic benefits. She attributed this to several factors, including Ethiopia’s conducive geographical location for developing herbal resources for traditional medicine, and the fact that approximately 10% of the 6,000 to 7,000 plant species in the country are endemic.
Challenges within the sector were extensively discussed at the forum. These include the absence of a cohesive national approach, a shortage of trained and experienced professionals in the field, a weak legal framework, policy, and strategy, and the lack of coordinating bodies for traditional medicine at various administrative levels, particularly at regional and sub-regional tiers. Furthermore, insufficient research and studies, a lack of coordination among research efforts by different institutions, low public awareness of traditional medicine, the absence of a robust and proactive traditional medicine association, and the lack of a proper knowledge management system for documenting and transmitting traditional medicine knowledge for future research and generations were identified as key obstacles in studies conducted in the field.
Ms. Sultan underscored the urgency of addressing these identified challenges through thorough research and by coordinating with all relevant stakeholders. She expressed optimism that the research presented and the discussions held at the conference would yield numerous valuable recommendations.