BoMRA warns against use of

In an interview with the authority’s public relations officer, Mr Israel Kgosidiile, said BoMRA acknowledged that some members of the public might resort to herbal or traditional remedies when conventional medicines were unavailable. He stressed that such products must always meet standards of safety, quality and efficacy before being used. “BoMRA recognises that limited access to conventional medicines may lead some patients to seek alternative options, including herbal remedies, however, reliance on unregulated products poses significant health risks and should not be viewed as a safe substitute for regulated medical treatment,” said Mr Kgosidiile.

He noted that herbal medicines, while often regarded as natural, were not automatically safe, adding that products imported into Botswana must be registered or authorised by BoMRA before they could be distributed or sold. Mr Kgosidiile confirmed that BoMRA regulated herbal medicines under the Medicines and Related Substances Act of 2013 and its accompanying regulations of 2019. He pointed out that the authority oversaw registration, licensing, product evaluation, labeling and post-market surveillance, adding that herbal products sold without authorisation were considered illegal.

Mr Kgosidiile therefore, said BoMRA expressed concern over the proliferation of herbal products advertised on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, adding that many of those products, the authority warned, were of unknown origin, lacked proper labeling, and made unverified therapeutic claims. He confirmed that the authority had put in place various enforcement measures to protect the public, including market surveillance, product sampling and the seizure of illegal items while sellers found in violation of the law might face closure of their premises, prosecution or other penalties. While BoMRA’s main mandate is regulation, it works closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support medicine availability within the national health supply chain, reaffirming that patient safety remains a top priority.