Regulatory situation

No licences are issued to providers of herbal medicine; such practices are limited to specialists.

In 1997, the Ministry of Health issued decisions on the technical prerequisites necessary for the establishment of laboratories for herbal medicine. In 1998, the Ministry issued decisions on the manufacture and distribution of herbal medicines and on a system of controls. The manufacture of herbal medicines has been included in the national drug policy. Both public and private laboratories have been active in processing medicinal herbs, and the Ministry of Health has given preliminary approval for the establishment of laboratories that would manufacture herbal medicines. A file concerning the manufacturing of herbal medicines has been developed in preparation for their registration.

Three draft laws covering herbal medicine have been prepared. One concerns herbal medicines that would be used in primary health care.

Education and training

A syllabus on treatment with herbal medicines has been recommended for inclusion in the curricula of faculties of medicine.

A syllabus on medicinal plants and herbal medicines has been introduced into the curricula of pharmacy faculties and at health institutes for technical assistant pharmacists.