The Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 (2007) of South Africa (Part 3: Implementations)

BackgroundThe registration of an alleged 200,000 or more unregulated traditional healers in terms of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (Act No 22, 2007) seems a challenging task. Section 1 of the Act prescribes clear legal guidelines for the registration of traditional healers on completion of a prescribed learning and training programme at an approved institution. The section also offers stipulations to acknowledge prior learning.AimsThis study aimed to determine the various options open to traditional healers to obtain formal registration as traditional health practitioners.Methods This is an exploratory and descriptive study that follows the modern historical approach of investigation by means of a literature review. The emphasis is on using current documentation, like articles, books and news papers, as primary resources to reflect on the options available for the registration of traditional healers. It also puts the options for future registration of traditional healers in perspective. The findings are offered in narrative form. Results An inquiry into the Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 seems to reveal that its prescribed legal guidelines are too strict and too comprehensive to allow all ±200,000 traditional healers who are practising at present into the system. However, Act No 22 does make provision for other less rigid options, like acknowledging prior learning. This can allow the aspiring traditional health practitioner to obtain full or provincial registration.ConclusionThere are implementation options available to accommodate a large number of unregistered healers into the system. The grandfather clause for instance recognizes prior learning and training. Another possibility is special entrance examinations