Harnessing technology to integrate indigenous plants into a healthcare system

SOUTH Africa is well endowed with a variety of indigenous medicinal plants that have for many years sustained lives and contributed immensely to the country’s healthcare system particularly in the rural communities.

- THABO MOHLALA

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Experts say more than 70% of Black South Africans rely on traditional medicine or herbs for a range of ailments including respiratory infections, headaches and gastrointestinal complications. They say this is an indication of the trust that most have on the indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) instead of the Western medicine or drugs.

In 2019, the Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act was signed into law. The Act is managed and implemented by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Act ensure the protection of the vast treasure of South Africa's indigenous knowledge, and it recognises Indigenous Knowledge as intellectual property which must be protected.

It also protects the knowledge of indigenous communities from unauthorised use, misappropriation and misuse.

Preparing for future disease outbreaks

The question is how can technology be deployed in such a way that it can help integrate IK into the existing health practices and policies to better prepare for any future outbreaks of pandemics. This and other related questions occupied the minds of science students, researchers and medical practitioners during a panel discussion at the South African Science Forum 2025, held at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria.

Hosted by the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, the conversation explored ways in which the traditional medicine practitioners can form part of the broader medical fraternity. In addition, it looked into how to create partnerships and collaboration between the Western medicine and traditional indigenous herbs to augment and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Amplifying the voice of traditional healers