Brief History-Establishment

Since 1968 when the Dar es Salaam College of the University of East Africa established its Faculty of Medicine, it was interested in the development of traditional medicine. In 1973 the University Planning Committee accepted the establishment of Traditional Medicine Research Unit which became operational in 1974. The unit had three sections namely Botany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology which have now been transformed to departments ofthe Institute of Traditional Medicine

The Institute of Traditional Medicine was established Through parliamentact no. 9 of 1991, Section 10 (1) (c), under the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences which in 2007 became Muhimbili University of Health and Alled Sciences, established Article 1 of the Charter of Incorporation; in line with the Universities act no 7 of 2005.The Institute has three Departments;known asDepartment of Medical Botany, Plant Breeding and Agronomy;Department of Natural Products Development and Formulation; and the Department of Biological and Preclinical Studies.  It is expected that three more departments; namely Department of Medical Anthropology; Department of Clinical Evaluation and Department of pharmaceutical formulations and production will be established.

The Institute of Traditional Medicine is charged with the responsibility to research into traditional healing systems, in Tanzania, to identify useful materiamedica which can be modernized and developed into drugs and traditional healing practices which can be adopted for use to improve human health.

The Institute has the following opportunities in accomplishing its responsibilities:

1. The country with large wealth of medicinal plants, a few of which have been exploited. These represent potential source of curative products and drug
2. Over 75,000 traditional healers in Tanzanian Mainland. These are the custodians of the knowledge about plants with medicinal value. They will assist the Institute in exploiting the wealth of medicinal plants found in different parts of the country.
3.  Countrywith unique in the world. Some plants are only found in Tanzania. Due to this reason it is possible to attract both national and international collaborators in research on the medicinal value of these plants.
4. Presence of medicinal plant farms, which can be used for commercial cultivation of medicinal plants. The same plants can be used to prepare galenicals for use. Establishment of a herbal pharmacy for dispensing these preparations will generate funds for the institute