Latest update May 25th, 2026 12:35 AM
Herbalists association not sure about new law
Following an announcement by Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy that by the end of the year, there will be a new law called the Health Professionals Act that will seek to regulate who can actually operate heath services/facilities in the country, President of the Guyana Association for Alternative Medicine (GAAM), Dr. Iamel Aowmathi, told Kaieteur News that the association is currently discussing the new law.
He explained to this newspaper yesterday that the executive body is not sure how to react to the Bill, which will soon be tabled in Parliament, because they are not in receipt of the draft.
Dr. Aowmathi added that the association aspires to become a regulatory body, as they want to keep in line with what is expected of them, as herbalists must have a specific code of conduct.
According to Aowmathi, like the Health Ministry, the association is also against those persons who pretend to be doctors and practise medicine.
Only recently, Minister Ramsammy had stated that the Bill would be tabled in the National Assembly before the end of the year.
It will deal with all the areas of medical technology, including optometry where some opticians are functioning as optometrists.
The Bill has already been drafted and has gone through consultation.
It has also received the support from various organizations such as the Guyana Pharmacy Council, the Nursing Council and the Dental Council.
Kaieteur News understands that the Bill has also passed through the Office of the Attorney General’s office and Cabinet. It is currently at the Cabinet sub committee level.
Minister Ramsammy also told this newspaper that herbalists are not licensed to sell drugs, nor are they qualified to do so.
However, he explained that Guyana does not have the relevant laws to prevent such activities, as the medical practitioners act makes it very clear who can be medical practitioners, but the Guyana Medical Council is mainly focused on regulating its own doctors, and as such a new law has to come in place. One of these could be the Health Professionals’ Act.
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