How unregulated traditional medicine practices poses a health hazard

Despite efforts to promote traditional medicine through public awareness campaigns and the annual Traditional Medicine Week, the CAG warns that a significant number of practices remain unregulated, leading to adverse health effects, criminal activities, and avoidable deaths.

Fatal incidents

Between 2020 and 2024, at least 16 people died in incidents linked to dangerous traditional medicine practices, according to data reviewed by auditors from public police notices.

The deaths were reported in various regions, including Ruvuma, Dodoma, Singida, Kagera, Mwanza, and Shinyanga.

Some of the unlawful activities flagged by officials include the use of human body parts in rituals, persecution of suspected witches, exploitation of children, and involvement in so-called ramli chonganishi (divination practices).

“Despite legal provisions prohibiting such acts, including Section 30 of the Traditional and Alternative Medicines Act, 2022, the government lacks a structured system to monitor and prevent these violations,” the CAG report states.

The report also documents fatalities caused by unregulated remedies. In 2023 alone, seven people died in Simiyu and Lindi regions after being administered unsafe traditional medicines.

However, the Tanzania Traditional and Alternative Health Practice Council (TAHPC), the regulatory body, has no system in place to record or track such incidents unless they attract public outcry.

The lack of documentation has prevented authorities from understanding the full scale of the issue, and many such cases go unreported.

“The absence of data severely limits the government’s ability to analyse and respond to threats posed by unregistered practitioners,” the CAG notes.

Unregistered practitioners

The audit further reveals that out of 21 traditional health practitioners visited in four LGAs—Dodoma, Arusha, Temeke, and Bariadi—only 12 were registered, with Temeke having the highest number of unregistered practitioners at 71 percent.

Although TAHPC had a strategic target of registering 60,000 practitioners by June 2022, only 53,499 were registered by June 2024.

Even among those registered, the system lacks comprehensive location data, such as street names or ward information, making monitoring difficult.

“Many practitioners operate in remote areas, and a single coordinator is often tasked with overseeing an entire LGA, creating gaps in enforcement,” the report reveals.

Auditors found that the Ministry of Health and PO-RALG had no reliable records at regional or district levels showing the number or registration status of practitioners operating within their jurisdictions.

The current registration system (HPRS) is not fully updated, and the new five-year strategic plan for the sector (2022/23–2027/28) remains unapproved more than 20 months after submission.

This lack of planning and coordination undermines national efforts to regulate the sector and protect citizens from harmful practices.

The CAG has issued several recommendations, including, improve the registration process by actively tracing and locating all practitioners, especially in remote areas.

He also recommends the integration of PO-RALG authorisation into the Traditional Medicine Registration System to enhance oversight.

 “The continued operation of unregistered practitioners and use of unsafe remedies not only poses serious health risks but also undermines public confidence in the traditional medicine sector,” the report cautions.

As Tanzania moves to harness traditional medicine as part of its healthcare system, the CAG’s findings highlight the urgent need for stronger regulation, data collection, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure public safety and uphold professional standards.