The incorporation of African traditional health practitioners into the South African health care system

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Date
2006
Authors
Summerton, Joy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The need to progress from parallel or merely tolerant health care systems towards integrated systems in countries with both traditional and western health care systems has been acknowledged globally. Underlying this acknowledgement is the need to respond to the expressed health care needs of communities. This article offers a critical reflection on national and international policies as they relate to African traditional medicine and healing in the context of the South African health care system. Key policy documents and laws pertaining to traditional healing are addressed so as to elucidate the current legal and social status of African traditional medicine and health practitioners in South Africa. The Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2004 is a breakthrough in attempts to legitimise and professionalise traditional practitioners, but this article also identifies aspects of the Act that may evoke conflict.
IsiXhosa: Imfuneko yokusuka kwiinkqubo ezingaqukwanga kuyiwe kwiinkqubo ezidityaniswe nezinye iinkqubo zeenkonzo zempilo kumazwe asebenzisa unyango lwamachiza nolwasentshona olwamkelwa kwihlabathi liphela. Ngokolu lwazi kubalulekile ukulandela iinkqubo zeenkonzo zempilo ezinika iimfuno zoluntu. Eli phepha libonisa iipolisi zikaZwelonke nezehlabathi malunga nobume bezempilo xa kuthelekiswa imeko yonyango ngamachiza kunye neyasentshona kuMzantsi Afrika. Amaxwebhu aphambili epolisi nemithetho emalunga nenkqubo yonyango ngamachiza iyaxoxwa ukunyusa umgangatho wolwamkelo lomthetho nentlalo kweli xesha langoku eMzantsi Afrika. Umthetho weenkonzo zamachiza ka 2004 unika amagunya asemthethweni iinkonzo zamachiza. Eli phepha liyichaza phandle imiba yoMthetho enokubangela impixano.
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Keywords
Traditional health care, Western health care, Health care systems, African traditional medicine, Traditional health practitioners, South African health care system
Citation
Summerton, J. (2006). The incorporation of African traditional health practitioners into the South African health care system. Acta Academica, 38(1), 143-169.