In a significant move to reshape the nation’s healthcare landscape, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader of Burkina Faso, has unveiled plans to introduce a regulatory framework for incorporating traditional medicine into hospitals and healthcare centers across the country.
The policy seeks to “restore the emblem of traditional medicine” as a cornerstone of Burkina Faso’s National Health Policy.
The initiative aims to formalize the role of traditional medicine by establishing dedicated services in regional and university hospital centers, building on the country’s long-standing recognition of traditional practices.
Traditional medicine was legally recognized in Burkina Faso’s public health code in 1994, and a national policy developed in 2004 has promoted its integration into the formal health system.
Currently, six phytomedicines, including N’DRIBALA for malaria treatment, are listed on the National List of Essential Medicines, reflecting the sector’s growing importance.
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This healthcare initiative follows Traoré’s earlier efforts to bolster the sector, including the unveiling of 55 modern hospitals in March 2025, as reported by South Today.
The project has been hailed as a testament to his commitment to improving quality of life, with Traoré emphasizing the role of a healthier population in driving economic and social development.