HEALTH professionals should not completely dismiss patients who express an interest in using traditional or herbal medicine alongside standard treatments for HIV, says HIV clinician Dr Dashika Balak.
Speaking at the 2026 Pacific HIV Symposium at the Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and Spa in Nadi recently, Dr Balak emphasised the importance of maintaining an open, supportive dialogue with individuals seeking alternative options.
Dr Balak said a heavy-handed or dismissive approach from medical practitioners often led patients to disengage entirely from necessary medical care.
“We do have a lot of patients who come in and prefer to go on herbal or traditional medication and what we do is we do create a safe space for them where we do talk about this,” she said.
“We discuss why they want to go on herbal medication, what is their perception of herbal medication, how antiretroviral therapy is going to help them, what is the evidence behind the medications.”
Rather than shutting down the conversation, medical professionals should guide patients toward an approach where conventional, life-saving antiretroviral therapy remains a central pillar of their health routine.
“At the end of the day, we never discourage them or say no from taking because the moment you say no, that is when they switch off.
“My advice to my patients is, if you want to take your herbal medicine, if you want to take your traditional medication, I don’t stop you but how I want you to work with me is you take my medication as well, you can take your medication at night, you take my medication in the morning and it works.”
Dr Balak stressed that fostering trust between the clinician and the patient remained critical to achieving positive long-term health outcomes.
“The point is, the moment you say no, that’s it, you lose your patient.”
