Players in the pharmaceutical industry, biodiversity conservation, and traditional healing have called for the establishment of a ‘specialized research institute.’

The institute they say could be dedicated to conserving and promoting value addition to medicinal plants with valuable genetic resources to produce commercial pharmaceutical products and related products which have demand on the local and international market.

This follows the draft law governing biological diversity and wildlife recently approved by Cabinet that also called for establishing a gene bank for preserving and conserving the genetic content of fauna and flora and determines modalities for its management and use.

Genetic material is any plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity.

Genetic resources are used for research or product development that finally delivers commercial products, especially those that are processed in industries.

In 2017, National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) launched a Rwf600 million project where small and model herbal medicine processing units were to be set up across the country to develop traditional herbal medicines for industrial production.

This was targeting to deploy modern and standardized techniques which will increase competitiveness of herbal medicine products.

However players in the pharmaceutical industry suggest setting up a specific government body dedicated to produce pharmaceutical products from medicinal plants.

Dr. Raymond Muganga is a pharmaceutical expert and senior lecturer at University of Rwanda, College of Medicine who also heads the pharmacy council.

He said that in partnership with Rwanda Environment Management Authority under UNDP-GEF project, researchers are in trials to produce medicine from four genetic resources but adding that there is need for a special body to valorize genetic resources.

"We have to generate value from genetic resources through research and development so that we produce products that can go to market. In order to valorize genetic resources, we have to start with people who have traditional knowledge about medicinal plants,” he said.

He said that there is a need to first identify the market needs and customer priority.

"We are in research on four genetic resources to produce medicines. These include Riparia, Ximenia Caffra, Bidens Pilosa and avocado. From pesticides, pharmaceutical plants, cosmetics to food and beverages, genetic resources can produce a wide range of exports,” he said.

Marie Laetitia Busokeye, the Director of Research and Environmental Planning at Rwanda Environment Management Authority said that the matter ought to be accorded priority at national level adding that it will require allocation of a budget.

"It requires a recurrent budget. Universities in Rwanda need to work with other universities to engage in research related to genetic resources valorization,” she said.

She urged researchers to also make use of research and innovation funds to develop research projects.

Players in the sector have also expressed the need for joint projects where researchers and traditional healers with knowledge on medicinal plants can carry out research.

Traditional knowledge

Jane Nyirahabineza, the president of AGA Rwanda Network, an association of herbalists with traditional knowledge on medicinal plants, requested the government to set up a law governing traditional healers which has been pending for a while.

She added that setting up botanical gardens across the country to conserve these plants should be put in priority.

Over 700 medicinal plant species are in eminent danger of extinction, the network says.

The network has over 3,000 members while there are about 14,000 traditional healers in the country.

Collaboration of researchers and traditional healers is governed by Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a multilateral treaty to ensure conservation of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

It is also in line with Nagoya Protocol, which covers traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.

The protocol notes  that communities with traditional knowledge about genetic resources should benefit from their utilization.