Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, has advocated for the formal regulation and integration of traditional medicine into Nigeria’s national healthcare system.

Presenting the lead debate on a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Traditional, Alternative and Complementary Medicine in Aniocha, Delta State, the lawmaker argued that indigenous health practices should be institutionalized alongside orthodox medicine to leverage their proven therapeutic benefits.

Defending the cultural and spiritual dimensions of indigenous healing, Nwoko stated that native doctors serve as crucial intermediaries who intercede with ancestors to facilitate physical and spiritual wellbeing.

He emphasized that traditional medicine remains the primary source of healthcare for millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural communities, and stressed that a formal legal framework would help eliminate quackery, standardize dosage guidelines, safeguard public health, and unlock economic opportunities through medical research and natural pharmaceuticals.