THE Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPA) has told companies and individuals dealing in herbal medicines to comply with the law or face closure.
By Michael Gwarisa
This comes at the back of uncontrolled mushrooming of herbal dealers who are diagnosing patients, prescribing and dispensing herbal treatments at very high prices as well as offering body scans through methods that have not been approved by the country’s regulatory authorities such as the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), the Natural Therapists Association (NTA), the Radiation Protection Authority (RAPAZ) as well as the HPA.
Among some of the organizations that have raised eyebrows over the recent past weeks include Tharika M Health who are offering full body scans as well as other herbal treatments known as STC30 which are touted for treating almost everything even though there is no scientific evidence to back the claims.
In an interview with HealthTimes, HPA Public Relations Manager, Ms Tariro Manamike said those who will be caught wanting will be brought to book in the coming few days.
Only registered health institutions are allowed to deal with health issues. The public is reminded and warned against getting health services from unregistered institutions as they will be jeopardizing their own health.
All machinery performing scans are to be approved by the Radiation Protection Authority before they start being used on members of the public. We encourage the public to check if the advertised institutions offering services are registered on the HPA website www.hpa.co.zw,” said Manamike.
She added that those offering body scans without the requisite documentation will soon face the music and the authority will be partnering other authorities and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate the depth of underground dealings.
