Putting Back The "Mo" In Mozambique

"Maputo — The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Tuesday passed the first reading of a government bill which amends the law on private medicine so that it includes, not only evidence-based medicine, but also 'alternative medicine'.

The bill defines 'alternative' medicine as 'health practices not covered by the National Health System and which are constituted by range of diagnostic and therapeutic practices without the appropriate scientific validation, or which are regarded as inaccessible to the scientific method and experimentation and in this latter case may use metaphysical and spiritual curative practices'.

At first sight this looks as if purveyors of all manner of superstition and fraud - homeopathy, chiropractic, aromatherapy, naturopathy or vitamin therapy - will now be treated the same as qualified doctors. All can go into private practice and open up clinics.

That is not how Health Minister Ivo Garrido views the problem.

He told AIM that in reality 'alternative' practitioners are already operating in Mozambique without any authorisation. Some of them have even been to see him, waving convincing-looking diplomas issued by western institutions.

There was nothing illegal about these practitioners. Their businesses were not covered by the existing law. 'There was a legal vacuum', said Garrido, and so the government thought it better to bring 'alternative' medicine into the law.

If homeopaths think this means they will be able to open clinics in Maputo tomorrow, they may be in for a shock. For they will have to apply for a licence, just as a clinic offering genuine medical care has to apply. And the Health Ministry will decide whether to grant the licence or to refuse it.

'We will decide on a case by case basis', Garrido stressed.

The law also allows the Health Ministry to shut down any private practice on grounds of 'proven professional incompetence' or 'grave acts that damage the physical and moral integrity of the users'.

Any practitioner of 'alternative' medicine could be regarded as 'professionally incompetent' since the remedies he prescribes have no scientific basis, and at best act as placebos.

Thus the new bill is not a blank cheque for medical frauds, but may instead restrict their activity."

-- All Africa.com