An Empirical Analysis of Key Issues in African Medicine: A Short Report from the Republic of Congo

African medicine, incorporating both traditional and biomedical systems, is integral to healthcare in the Republic of Congo. These systems operate in parallel, but a lack of comprehensive empirical analysis of the issues at their intersection hinders effective policy and integration. This short report aimed to identify and analyse the predominant contemporary issues affecting the practice and integration of African medicine within the Republic of Congo's healthcare landscape. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted. Data were collected via structured surveys with biomedical practitioners and semi-structured interviews with recognised traditional medicine practitioners. Secondary data from regional health directorates were analysed thematically. A key finding was a significant communication barrier, with a large majority of surveyed biomedical practitioners reporting no formal interaction with traditional practitioners. Other salient issues included variable regulation of traditional remedies and patient mobility between care systems, often influenced by perceived illness aetiology. Systemic fragmentation, characterised by a lack of structured dialogue and collaborative frameworks, is a fundamental issue impeding the development of a cohesive healthcare environment in the Republic of Congo. Establish official platforms for knowledge exchange between practitioner groups. Develop and disseminate standardised training on safe traditional practices. Initiate pilot programmes for documented referral pathways between sectors. African traditional medicine, healthcare integration, health systems, Republic of Congo, mixed methods, empirical research This report provides empirical evidence on systemic issues, offering a basis for stakeholders to address challenges in integrating diverse medical practices in the Republic of Congo.