Herbal and Homeopathic Products Regulation in the Gambia: A Commentary on the Medicines and Related Products Act, 2014

Abstract

Background: In 1984, the Medicines Act, cap 40.01 was passed to regulate medicines in the Gambia. If one reviews the said law, one will see the many lacunae in the Medicines Act, cap 40.01, and the Medicines Regulations 1986. For instance, concerning the regulation of herbal and alternative therapies, the Medicines Act cap 40.01 did not make provisions for the registration. Also, concerning herbal therapies, the Act provided lacunae for herbal medicinal product registrations.  Finally, the Act did not take into consideration incorporating the traditional healers on the governing board of the Medicine Control Agency. The National Assembly of the Gambia thus passed a new law, The Medicines, and Related Products Act, 2014, to cure these ambiguities to effectively regulate herbal and alternative products. Thus, section 66 of the Medicines and Related Products Act 2014 repealed the Medicines Act 1984 [cap 40.01].  Aim: Thus the Medicines, and Related Products Act, 2014, and The Medicines and Related Products Regulations, 2019, have become the new legislative regulatory framework for the regulation of traditional and homeopathic medicinal products in the Gambia.  In this commentary, the role of the new Act on herbal and homeopathic medicinal products in the Gambia has been discussed concerning the product regulations. Results: The Medicines, and Related Products Act, 2014, and The Medicines and Related Products Regulations, 2019 are the new legislative and regulatory framework for traditional and homeopathic medicinal product regulation, standardization, and registration in the Gambia. Conclusion: The Medicines and Related Products Regulations, 2019, assented to on 15th April 2020 providing a new face for traditional and homeopathic medicinal product registration in the Gambia.