More Than 50 Herbal Medicines Hold Possibility for Cancer Cure

TOPIC 3

STANDARDIZATION PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS FOR RESEARCH OF NEW DRUGS AND FOR PRODUCTION OF PLANT DERIVED DRUGS AND DEVELOPMENT OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE INDUSTRY

3.1       INFLUENCE OF STANDARDIZATION OF PHYTOMEDICINES ON INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND BIODIVERSITY

DEFINITION OF STANDARDIZATION:

Processes involved in producing a product with reproducible effect and quality

                   -  for efficacy and safety

PROBLEM:

·      Exploitation of indigenous  knowledge

·      Depletion of medicinal plants and biodiversity

OBJECTIVES

To ensure that standardization procedures take into account the potential impact on indigenous knowledge, conservation of medicinal plants and biodiversity.

STRATEGY

·      Develop methods of impact assessment

·      Ensure involvement of traditional healers / Ensure community-participatory approach at all stages

·      Ensure conservation measures that promote sustainable

     

CONSTRAINTS:

        

·      Lack of  trust among stake-holders

·      Lack of funds

·      Lack of suitable models ( methods and tools )

·      Insufficient human resources ( in terms of capacity and indigenous expertise )

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ACTIVITY:

·      Hold meetings, promote dialogue with and feedback to communities

·      Draw up and agree upon contract or other legal mechanisms as appropriate ( short and long term )

·      Develop or promote existing and new national legislation of traditional medicine

·      Creation / establishment of  institutions for development and standardization of traditional medicine

·      Draw up proposals for funding for government bodies and /or other donors

·      Creating income generating activities

·      Capacity building involving: Traditional Medical Practitioners and Researchers.

ACTORS:

1.    Traditional Medical Practitioners

2.    Politicians and Governments

3.    Researchers & Institutions

4.    Funding agencies

5.    Communities in general

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3.2       ROLE AND IMPACT OF MARKET FORCES ON MEDICINAL PLANT USES AND CONSERVATION

DEMAND SUPPLY             DISTRIBUTION                              PURCHASING POWER

 

RKET FORCE

 

REGULATION                                            LAND TENURE                              INTERNATIONAL LOCAL

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PROBLEMS:            §Demand / Supply Imbalances      

§Ultimately impact on environment

§  No control over market forces

OBJECTIVES:         §To monitor/regulate and organise market forces

                                       for sustainable conservation through recognition

                                       and support of traditional; medicinal plant trade

STRATEGIES:         §Draft supportive legislation

§Create national/regional/international regulation

§Regulate market force

§  Encouragement of land provision for medicinal plant cultivation

§  Small business protection

CONSTRAINTS/NEEDS

§Lack of information

§Lack of capacity

§Lack of co-ordination

§Lack of political will

§Competition

§Poor pricing (standardization)

§Socio-economic factors

ACTIVITIES:           §Monitor the market forces and evaluation

                                    §Create awareness

§Create an enabling environment

§Business training : capacity building

§Encourage local communities cultivation at various

levels through training (e.g.home gardens with both         food and medicinal plants)

§Develop ecological medicinal garden as training    centres

§Establish nurseries to encourage dissemination to             provide people who want to cultivate medicinal plants

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MAIN ACTORS:      §Local communities

                                    §Governments

                                    §Chamber of Commerce

                                    §Botanist/Universities/National Centre for Seeds

                                       (Research Institutions)

                                    §Banks

                                    §Financial Institutions

§Private Sector (plants suppliers both local and international

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3.3       CONSERVATION AND RIGHTS (TRADITIONAL RESOURCE RIGHTS)

PROBLEMS

OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIES

ACTIVITIES

MAIN ACTORS

CONSTRAINTS

(Who owns resources and knowledge?) Lack of ownership of resources Lack of ownership of knowledge Survival rights of resources - but not at the expense of  people’s rights

Ensure sustainable utilisation of resources Recognition and protection of owners of knowledge

Establish status of plants - first at local level and then national/continental/international Strategies for conservation of resources in situ and ex situ to preserve genetic diversity Use local as well as other knowledge for cultivation and propagation of plants Incentives for income generation opportunities at local and then other levels

Situational  analysis (health, demand biological etc) and needs analysis (status of plants) at local and then other levels Establish criteria for prioritisation and develop action plans Identify and allocate responsibilities in terms of activities (in and ex situ) Identify gaps and propose activities; include local knowledge Initiate value added activities at local level and then other levels

Researchers and local interest groups Local interest groups; local government/”tribal” representatives; facilitators All appropriate stakeholders Researchers and local interest groups Local interest groups and individuals; technical, social and legal experts; private -7-

Multi-national corporations MAI

STRATEGIES

ACTIVITIES

MAIN ACTORS sector.

Establish resource use management systems involving all resource users (co-management) Integrate different systems of legislation affecting different rights

Identify stakeholders and initiate co-management plans. Capacity building for conflict resolution. Capacity building at all level and activities Initiate advocacy process and review legislation and international commitments under conventions. Propose legislative changes harmonising different rights. Implement legislation

All community/ resource users Training institutions; local experts NGOs, civil society organisations Experts (eg legal) and government; stakeholders Government

OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIES

ACTIVITIES

MAIN ACTORS

CONSTRAINTS